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OTLIENSIANS 1st XV 43 - Knaresborough 10

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OLD OTLIENSIANS 43 KNARESBOROUGH 10

Otliensians opened their account in Yorkshire Division 4 with an excellently constructed victory over a committed and physical Knaresborough team who had won the corresponding fixture last season.

The game was only 2 minutes old when back row man Arbuckle crashed over in the right hand corner after good approach work over a number of phases following a well worked line out, with Foster adding the conversion the scene was set for the first half.

After 5 minutes fellow back rower Duggan scored following another well execeuted line out and reverse pass from Birch in to space, Foster added the extras for an early 14 - 0 lead. This sparked the Knaresborough pack in to life who began to use their trade mark driving game to pressure the home defence, but with the organisation around the contact area functioning well the Otliensians line proved to be solid and secure. An exchange of penaties ensued, before a magnificent break by Ratahi, sweeping past 5 defenders lead to the fast supporting Tenniswood scoring in the 34th minute for Foster to again convert. The half was by no means finished, when a line out take on the right lead to a sublime combination move between Keinhorst, Foster and Ratahi in midfield carried on by Hanogue, Tom Woods and Lyons for Bonner to score, with Foster again kicking well a half time score of 31 - 3 was just reward for a dynamic and skillful performance.

Knaresborough started the second half with an excellent move from defence covering 50 metres, and followed with their best phase of the match leading to a well deserved score from sustained forward pressure in the 52nd minute, an excellent conversion closed the gap to 31 - 10, and the momentum had swung to the visitors. The following 20 minutes were well contested but the superior Otliensians bagan to tell and with increasing intensity, reminiscent of the first half, the home side once again were in the ascendency with a series of punishing forward drives, and penetrating back play, where the back three of Tenniswood, Lee O'Donnell and Grey were prominate on the counter attack. From another series of forward drives, the middle three again combined to provide the space with Grey scoring his first try in First XV rugby after 72 minutes.

It was left to the Otliensians pack to have the last word when tremendous inter passing and offloading, with debutant Broughan at the fore, was finished by Duggan for his second of the match and with Foster adding his 6th successful kick of the game a final score of 43 -10 eradicated the points difference from the previous weeks disappointment.

Report supplied by the coach, Gary Walker.

appleyr@bigfoot.com