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OTLIENSIANS 1st XV 3 HULLENSIANS 10
Otliensians welcomed Hullensians to Chaffers
Field on Saturday for the top of the table clash between these two
undefeated teams, and it was the Hull side who returned home victorious at
the end of a somewhat disappointing contest, where no structure or
continuity was achieved due to the high penalty count, and the regular
disruptions of players leaving the field for a series of innocuous offences,
that both sets of players and spectators found bemusing to say the least.
The game started at a high tempo, with the Hull side attacking through their
forwards, keeping the ball close to the ruck and mauls, but finding no space
in the well organised Ensians defence, which began to dominate the often
predictable and limited game plan, to such an extent that the Hull side were
happy to try drop goals, one of which was successful to go in to a 3 point
lead.
Ensians came storming back, but with the Hull open side continually on the
wrong side of the rucks, playing the referee perfectly, frustration began to
creep in to the Ensians play, and with it the continuity of the previous 3
weeks was difficult to establish, with Ensians having to settle for a Foster
penalty to tie the scores at half time. The most memorable feature of a
tense first half was the continuing shrill blasts of the whistle, coupled
with the steady stream of players from both sides being sin binned for
offences that remained a mystery to everyone concerned.
Within 30 seconds of the restart two more players were sin binned, with
Skipper Smith asked to leave the field for having taken a vicious punch to
the nose, the confusion and frustration were mounting. The pivotal moment in
the game came with 12 minutes of the second half gone as Ensians were
beginning to establish themselves in Hull territory with a series of well
executed pick and drives, which were once again illegally stopped by the
Hull players on the wrong side of the ruck. To the joy of the Ensians
faithful, the merry whistle blower at last blew for an Ensians penalty, but
immediately to their utter astonishment, this was reversed and a red card
given to home No 8 Duggan who was adjudged to have rucked the already
penalised player too vigorously.
From this moment the strong Hull pack began to exert increasing pressure
against the gallant Ensians seven, and with the cultured left boot of the
experienced centre keeping play behind the Ensians it was fast becoming a
dogged rear guard action to try and salvage something from the game. From
one such kick, resulting from another penalty, the Hull side gained a 5
metre line out, once again setting up their rolling maul, with the Ensians
pack as usual responding by fiercely protecting their lines, a second Hull
wave joined the maul, and the Hull pack drove over with numerous Ensians
bodies underneath. The whistle blew and the Ensians crowd cheered at the
thought of another attack that had been repelled, and looking forward to a
further 5 metre scrum, but the referee deemed otherwise and awarded a try to
the visitors wide out on the left, he then inexplicably ran between the
posts for the conversion, the confusion and frustration were complete.
In a game where the tension of the occasion seemed to get the better of both
sides, Hullensians deserved their win because their more experienced players
knew how to exploit and play the situation much better than their younger
Ensians counterparts, a lesson well learned and one that will help the
Ensians over the rest of the season.
Report supplied by the coach, Gary Walker.
Roundhegians 3rd XV 41 pts vs Old Otliensians 2nd
XV 17 pts
‘Ensians 2nd’s
travelled to Roundhegians for their first merit table game of the season
with high expectations following their good performance the previous week
against neighbours Ilkley. However they found themselves 7-0 down within two
minutes following a missed touch kick which allowed Roundhegians to score
near the posts.
Ensians got
into their stride five minutes later when, after a break by Gray, Ollie
Richards showed a great turn of speed to run half the length of the field to
score. Although Roundhegians again increased their lead to 7 points Ollie
Richards again showed his speed to score his second try and level the scores
at 12-12. However the larger and more experienced Roundhegians forwards were
now beginning to have a major influence on the game and shortly before half
time Roundheians once again took the lead with a short range try following a
series of driving rucks and mauls.
Roundhegian’s forward dominance continued in the second half with two
further tries before Rob Gray reduced the arrears to 17-29. However Ensians
conceded a further two tries in the last 5 minutes to make the final score
17-41.
The whole
team never gave up and showed great heart. Tom O’Donnell and Andy Bower were
outstanding in the forwards and Dave Beardsley's recent work in training
paid dividends when he showed great pace to stop the opposition scrum half
from scoring an almost certain try.
Yarnbury 3rd XV 52pts v Otliensians 3rd XV
7 pts
After a delayed start awaiting a referee, the
Ensians played up the slope and gave a much improved performance compared
with the previous week. The ball from the scrums was better controlled and
the work on the lineout on practice nights began to pay off.
Support work was also improved and a score
from centre Jason Babb, who had a good all-round game kept the visitors in
the game up to halftime when the score was 12 - 7 pts.
The second half was a different story; the Ensians had two bad periods and
fitness of the home side told as they overran the vistors defence.
Wing Darren Hamilton , Ross Myers at hooker and flanker John Broadbent, who
came on as replacement early in the second half, all had good games in what
was a spirited display by the Ensians.
On Saturday the 1st XV have a League game at newly promoted Knaresborough.
The 2nd XV are scheduled to play at Otley 4thXV and the 4th at home to
Knaresborough.
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