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OLD MODERNIANS 9 OLD OTLIENSIANS 22
Old Otliensians secured promotion on Saturday
with a well earned victory in the rain and mud of fierce local rivals Old
Modernians, despite have many players unavailable, and securing the services
of the oldest subs bench on record.
Otliensians started ferociously from the kick off driving their opponents
first to the left, then sweeping them to the right over seven phases, before
stand off Foster scored the try after just 90 seconds, the conversion giving
the perfect start. The conditions were already dire, and the home side
replied after 4 minutes with a well taken penalty following what can only be
described as mystery infringements, which were to frustrate and plague both
sides throughout the entire game.
The Otliensians forwards were in the ascendancy, and lock Tom Woods charged
down a kick near the home line to register the second try after just 11
minutes, but then followed a real slog in the mud, with Otliensians using
their forward patterns and good running lines in the backs to penetrate,
whilst Modernians utilised the kicking game of their stand off, who
converted long range penalties after 34 minutes and in the 5th minute of
added time at the interval for a narrow 12-9 Otliensians lead at the break.
Playing up the slope in the second half Otliensians full back Kristian
Keinhorst kicked the relieving penalty after 52 minutes before following
Foster on to the sidelines with yet another Otliensians injury. Otliensians
know how to starve the opposition of possession in atrocious conditions, and
this day was no different with the pick and drive sapping the energy of the
Modernians defenders and astute kicking penning the home team in their own
half. The 3rd Otliensians try was scored when Walker, who had come off the
bench at stand off, hoisted a high cross field kick which was fumbled by the
defence for Hill to score near the left hand corner in the ensuing
confusion, with Walker adding the conversion the two points were secured in
the 63rd minute, with the celebrations beginning as soon as the final
whistle was blown.
This game was a testament to the strength in depth of Otliensians, with
Cooley and Chris Myers having good games, and Arbuckle, Hanogue, Bonner,
Grey, and the O'Donnell brothers showing remarkable defensive qualities when
Modernians began to show a threat in the latter stages when they were forced
to chase the game.
With 4 games remaining the goal is to now to take Hessle to their final game
against Bramley in the pursuit of a potential first place, the next league
fixture at home against the league leaders on 29 March will be a benchmark
to measure how Otliensians have progressed during the season.
Report supplied by the coach, Gary Walker.
OLD OTLIENSIANS B 0 - ILKLEY 3RDS 17
As Ilkley 2nds beat ‘Ensians 1st XV in the
Aire- Wharfe Cup final two years back, the hosts were expecting strong
opposition and this turned out to be the case. From the start, Ilkley
launched a series of attacks through their young capable backs and they were
soon 7 points up after 10 minutes.
Veteran half backs Peter Tempest and Peter Gilson steadied the ship and the
back row of Jason Stebbings, Alan Garnett and John Brown put in some strong
tackles. Good interplay between the Ilkley forwards and backs created
another try to stretch their lead to 12 points and as half time approached
another well-worked try with conversion took the score to 17 – 0 in the
visitors’ favour.
The home scrum with front row Steve Robinson, Ben Tetley and Chris Howells
had been holding up well against their strong opponents, but early into the
second half, an injury to Robinson lead to uncontested scrums. This gave the
home backs more opportunities and soon young centres Sam Grey and Liam
Copping were making inroads into Ilkley territory. Full back Sean Flesher
was pulled down a yard short and soon afterwards, winger Steve Lofthouse was
similarly unlucky.
Although the visitors had the edge in the lineout, the home pack was now
putting together some good drives through locks Andy Wood and Mark Copping.
Pressure on the Ilkley line saw Wood go over only to be held up. For the
remainder of the second half, ‘Ensians had the edge, but the Ilkley defence
held firm to leave the final score at 17 – 0 to the visitors.
This was a good team performance by ‘Ensians against a good Ilkley side
strengthened by four second-teamers and they were unlucky not to get on the
scoreboard in the second half.
Report supplied by John Harrison. |
