EDF Intermediate Cup Fourth Round Old Albanians 10 Coney Hill 22 MARK Mansfield further enhanced his reputation with a glorious individual try but it was not enough to rescue Old Albanians at Woollams on Saturday. In the EDF Intermediate Cup Fourth Round

EDF Intermediate Cup Fourth Round

Old Albanians 10 Coney Hill 22

MARK Mansfield further enhanced his reputation with a glorious individual try but it was not enough to rescue Old Albanians at Woollams on Saturday.

In the EDF Intermediate Cup Fourth Round clash, visitors Coney Hill from South West One proved too strong for depleted OAs.

The back line for OAs took on an experimental feel with Darragh O'Mahony and Ed Panting partnered for the first time in the channel while Adrian Twining, back at Woollams after a spell in the Army, came in on the wing allowing the impressive Mark Mansfield to fill the troublesome full back position.

The visitors from Gloucester were good value for an interval lead of 17-5, having shrugged off a long journey to seize the initiative from the kick off.

Twining marked his return with the only score of the half for OAs after he intercepted a pass mid way in his own half and surged clear for the try. Simon Gregory deputising for Richard Gregg at fly half appeared less relaxed with the boot than he had been a week earlier and his conversion attempt went wide of the mark.

Much of the second period was dominated by the battle for forward supremacy and punctuated by continual stoppages. Some bad tempered exchanges resulted before OAs finally began to find some rhythm and string some passes together. Paul Mansfield, who had received an earlier yellow card, led two charges into opposition territory but when the backs got involved their efforts to progress always appeared to break down with either a grounded pass or an ill judged kick.

The remaining points scored came late in the game. First Carr, who had been a menace to OAs all game, claimed a try to put his team clear at 22-5. Then with the 10 minutes of injury time ebbing away Mark Mansfield unlocked Coney Hill's defence with his dazzling effort.

There was evidence of the bright future at Woollams when Jonnie Mill's introduction to the action saw the young scrum half line up with Francis Denny and Gregory, his colleagues in OAs Colts county cup winning side of last season.

OAs return to action next on Saturday when they resume their league campaign with a difficult fixture away to Shelford.