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If someone had said to me on Saturday morning ‘would you take a draw today?’ I would have replied ‘Hell No!’ Against a side that had come up a division this season, had won two and lost three. We really should be beating teams like these if we are to stand any chance of progressing but at the end, even though we were all disappointed a draw for them was a fair result with the effort they put in over 80 minutes and a 17-17 draw was what everyone walked away with.

The Dale were missing a couple of players, such as Roy cropper but there was still a strong side out there and we started the game in good spirits. The early exchanges were tight with the visitiors fronting up well and giving as good as they got.

It was Oakdale who had the first attempt at points but before this they had to say au revoir to Dai Tovey who left the field with a twisted ankle. Oakdale kicked deep into the Stars 22 and from a five metre line-out everything went wrong when the visitors stole the ball and cleared their lines.

Oakdale did score their first points minutes later when a good move in their backs saw Simon Veall go over for a try but the referee called play back when he adjudged that the Dale backs were guilty of crossing and no points were awarded.

On eighteen minutes it was the Stars who broke the deadlock when their sustained pressure in the Oakdale 22 finally paid off and they crashed over for their first points of the day. The conversion was successful and they surged into a 7-0 lead.

If Oakdale had been dominant in all their games in the scrum and line-out they were certainly being matched in these departments in the first half by the Stars, with the line-out being one area that the visitors had targeted and were certainly reaping dividends, causing Oakdale problems in retaining possession at the set piece.

But Oakdale launched some good pressure of their own midway through the first half and were rewarded on 28 minutes with their first points when Simon Veall crossed for his first try of the season and converted his own try to level the scores at seven-a-piece.

The rest of the half was a tight affair with no side being able to get the upper hand on the other. The Oakdale players probably wished the half never game to an end as the rollicking they got of Dai at half time certainly conveyed that he wasn’t happy with the first half performance.

HALF TIME SCORE – OAKDALE RFC 7 V 7 BLACKWOOD STARS

That half time team talk certainly jolted the home side into action as with three minutes on the second half clock Oakdale surged into the lead with a well worked forwards try. With the pressure mounting in the forwards, Gethin Hockey making his first start of the season went looking ofr the hard yards. He had the awareness to make the ball available when he was tackled and offloaded to Graham Heath, who offloaded to Mark Dowden, who offloaded to Gavin Hipkiss to crash over the stars try line. Veall missed the conversion but Oakdale went into the lead at 12-7.

On the hour mark the Stars got themselves back into a very even match when one of their players saw that there was no last line of the Oakdale defence. He put a deft chip over the onrushing defence and their wide man ran through unopposed to take the ball and touch down their second try of the game. The conversion was good and the Stars took themselves into the lead at 14-12 with twenty minutes left on the clock.

What wind advantage Oakdale had in the first half had disappeared for the stars but Oakdale did have the advantage of playing down the slope in the second half and as time went on they found themselves continually in the stars half. On 72 minutes the Dale were awarded a scrum on their five metre line. With total dominance in the scrum going to the home side it was a foregone conclusion that points were to be scored. Not matter how much of an effort the Stars put in they were being pushed back over their own line but before Oakdale could score the scrum would capitulate and the scrum would be re-set. Everyone on the side was thinking penalty try time if it happened again and both packs reset for a third time.

Patience was what was called from the Dale and a third try would be in the bag but he ball had other ideas and when it was put into the scrum it shot straight out the back. Barber was just able to sling it blind to The Ginger Prince, and Pricey had his dancing shoes on to dive over the line for Oakdale’s third try of the day. A penalty try would have given the Dale a conversion in front of the posts but Veall found himself inches away from the touchline and could succeed with his conversion attempt. Nevertheless, Oakdale went back in front at 17-14 with eight minutes left on the clock.

No matter what the Stars did the Oakdale defence stood strong although it must be said that the visitors certainly had the upper hand in the line-out. With Captain Twin going off with a stinger in the shoulder Oakdale seemed to lack direction and were certainly holding on in the last few minutes. With one final attack on the cards the ball found Gavla and he chipped on hoping to get on the end of his punt through. He didn’t and the Stars mounted their own attack against a fragmented Oakdale defensive line. They worked their way up field diligently whilst showing good awareness of when to attack and when to keep it tight. Oakdale were getting a little agitated and eventually gave away a penalty which resulted in a right good scrap between the two sides. With only one option on their captain’s mind he pointed straight to the posts and with the last kick of the game the Stars recorded the three points they needed for the draw and the referee blew his whistle much to the delight of that Stars supporters.

Disappointed? Too right. Impressed with the effort and commitment shown by the visitors? Very much so. We need to understand that we were a ‘scalp’ for them and this was a day for them to front up and do their badge some justice. Their boys certainly did that and should be congratulated for earning themselves a draw. We should be thoroughly disappointed with one point, it’s not a loss but three other points went a begging. Yet again for the second time intwo weeks the phrase game management springs to mind. If we are going to win sometimes we need to win ugly and stick the ball up our jerseys for the last ten minutes. We were too loose in the final moments and ultimately it cost us the win. A week off next week to rest those tired bones will be useful in preparations for the trip to England to play Monmouth.

Cost of entry to the game – £2.00 – enough said…………

Quality of Matchday Programme – it doesn’t get any better than this in Division Three East

Quality of Aftermatch Meal – The Jen was back for Chicken Curry and Chips with lashings of bread and well received it was. Just wanted to ask whether there was a Braces in Blackwood the way the Stars boys were getting through both the white and the brown on offer