Tries: Ilo (2), Thompson, Williams

Conversions: Neville (2)

Pens:

Drop Goals:

The Medicals went into their last BUSA league fixture of 2007-08 knowing that nothing less than a victory was required if they were to remain in BUSA South Prem B. Even then the Medicals were relying on other results to go their way needing one of Reading or UWE to lose. After last week's disappointment away at Reading, Cameron Sullivan aksed primarily the same squad of players to try and make amends against the Greyhounds with the only changes seeing the hard working Anakan Navaratnam come into the back row and Harry Thompson come in at scrum-half for the injured Tom Maynard. The Greyhounds arrived at Teddington with slightly fewer Blues peppering their squad than when the sides met at Iffley Road just after Christmas. However, there was still plenty of experience in a team lead by this year's starting Varsity match hooker, Dan Rosen.

The Medicals, not wanting to let an Oxford side with little to play for into the game, started the game brightly. With the two packs evenly matched it was left to the host's backs to make their mark on the game with fly-half, and skipper for the day, Dan Neville pulling the strings in midfield and the back three Rory Hutchinson, Huw Williams and Kevin Ilo looking dangerous when put in space. In fact right wing Ilo was to open the Medicals' account for the afternoon. Quick hands by centres Ben Davies and James Sharples put the flying wing up against his opposite man. Ilo was able to beat the cover tacklers with pace and guile to dive in under the posts. Neville made no mistake with the conversion.

Playing some fine rugby the Medicals made the most of their dominant start by scoring a further try. This time the creative spark was provided by left wing Rory Hutchinson. Receiving the ball in his own half the fresh faced speedster made good yards taking play up to the Oxford twenty-two. After being brought down Hutchinson stayed alert and was able to spot Harry Thompson in support. Thompson using his years of experience on the wing crashed his way over in the left corner. Neville was unable to add the extras.

The Hounds then clawed there way back into the match with a well taken drop goal from fly-half Stuart O'Flanagan who also added a penalty before half-time to reduce the Medicals' lead to only six points. At half time those playing their last BUSA game implored their team mates to keep going for the final forty minutes.

The senior players words were taken to heart as the Medicals opened the second period reinvigorated and once more on the front foot, which allowed the hosts to score their best try of the afternoon. Xander Ancock exploited a gap in the Greyhound's midfield to break through and offload to the supporting James Sharples. Quick interplay between the Medicals backs put Dan Neville in possession who, showing good vision, released the on rushing Kevin Ilo. Ilo held on to the difficult ball and used his pace to run in for his second try of the afternoon. Neville failed with the difficult conversion attempt.

The Medicals were to extend their lead even further as all the back three got themselves on the scoresheet. Full-back Huw Williams showed that despite now being one of the team's elder statesmen he still had the ability and pace to go in for his first try of the season. Neville was able to add the extras. As the game drew on the Medicals were having to defend while the Hounds began to gain the upper hand. The host's cause was not halped as Ed pickles and Craig Nightingale were forced off with minor injuries, however, replacements Jon Fisher-Black and Jeremy Bartosiak-Jentys more than held their own.

The Hounds once again started to play the better rugby and replied with two trys of their own from flanker Sean Mackenzie and centre Chris Record, O'Flanagan converting one. With five minutes remaining the visitors were now within a try and conversion of pinching a victory, but the Medicals defended their line well and as the final whistle blew all attention turned to trying to find out the Reading and UWE scores. When the news came through, via club captain Ruairidh Crawford's brother and the French Alps, that Reading had been defeated by Oxford Brookes the Medicals knew they had managed to complete a, rather more tense and convoluted, Great Escape than first hoped.

Many thanks to Xander Ancock, James Saffin, Harry Thompson and Huw Williams who played their last BUSA games for the club on Wednesday. Also, congratulations to Cameron for keeping his side up and for his commitment this year despite the dissappointment of being unable to play due to injury. Now lets go and deal with Varsity.

Jez