21 Jan 2026
Old Albanians 28 – Barnes 22
Report by Gary Wiles-Rourke, photos by Neil Baldwin
Old Albanians edged a tight contest against Barnes last Saturday. It was a much needed win with closest rivals Oundle beating Guernsey comfortably to keep the pressure on the league leaders.
On a slightly heavy surface bathed in a chilly winter sun, the visitors came out the traps the quicker of the two sides forcing errors from the home defence, in the third minute Barnes won a penalty square on to the posts, close to 40 yards out. Barnes fly half, Will Nicholson gauged the distance as being within his range and pointed to the posts. His kick bisected the home posts to give Barnes and early 0-3 lead.
The game became a battle of wills and wits with both sides trying to find a chink in the others armour, again Barnes struck, with Angus Farquhar breaking through to register the game”s first five point score. Nicholson missed the conversion but Barnes held a 0-8 lead.
That try appeared to sting OAs into action and they worked hard to find a response. With both defences putting in a huge shift, OAs’ use of the forwards through pick and go from the ruck and mauling from the lineout put them in striking distance with Greg Lound being the first to benefit scoring from close range. Outside centre Sam Jones took on the place-kicking duties from scrum half Elliott McPhun and knocked over the conversion, 7-10.
The home side smelled blood and again using the forwards with their dominance at the set piece, scrummed and mauled their way back into range of their opponents try line.
This time, flanker Ben Alexander elected power over his usual impressive pace and drove over from close range to give the hosts the lead.
Again Jones was successful from the tee to take OAs into the sheds at half time with a 14-10 lead.
It was a brighter start for the second period for OAs as they opened Barnes up for the first time, Ben Alexander ran a great line making a break over the half-way line and into opposition territory.
Alex Noot gratefully received the pass and raced away under the posts to extend the hosts advantage. Jones again providing the extras.
Barnes had been playing well and had an organised defence despite the home side finding a way through, but Barnes also still has some potency in attack. A great move put Matt Branfield in for a well-taken try on the hour, with Nicholson again on target from the tee.
At 21-17 you could feel the tension and that there were more points to be had and the game ebbed and flowed with both sides giving a lot of grunt and guile to try and make inroads.
Wing Ben Morrow found some space and broke through to provide what was to be the decisive score using a combination of speed and footwork to dance his way through. Sam Jones completed a perfect day off the tee bringing the score to 28-17.
Barnes weren’t done yet though, and with time against them they launched another assault on the OAs’ line, they got their reward when Jacques Birch scored in the corner and despite Nicholson kicked the conversion which meant Barnes went back to South London with a well-earned bonus point.
So it’s as you were at the top of National League 2 East, with Old Albanian holding a slender two-point lead at the summit of the table. On January 24, OAs travel to Henley Hawks, whilst Oundle travel to Barnes, and on this performance they could do OAs a nice favour! The following week sees OAs host Dorking whilst Oundle entertain Henley. It’s going to be a very tight run in for the title.
Attendance: 347
Referee: Jack Sargentina
