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Otliensians 1st XV 13 - West Park Leeds 16
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Two divisions had separated these local rivals
last season and this looked to be the case at the beginning of the game when
West Park started with some accomplished play and took the lead after only 3
minutes with a well executed front peel at a line out, which lead to the
flanker running to the right corner unopposed, with the home defence falling
asleep, which proved to be the decisive factor in the final analysis. West
Park continued to press, with slick back play and powerful forward drives,
and deserved to increase their lead after 11 minutes to 8-0 with a penalty.
It seems that Otliensians have a tendency to a slow start this season, but
they began to come back in to the game gaining 50 metres with some excellent
movement in the back line, Ratahi and Cooper to the fore, leading to a
penalty for Foster after 16 minutes. This proved to be the only other score
of the half, but the home sides ambition could now clearly be seen, with
Foster showing incisive skills at fly half showcased with one dummy and run
after 27 minutes that left the West Park defence in tatters. Following
another dominant scrum, Duggan seemed to very clearly touch down for the
home side, but the referee remained unsighted and West Parks well organised
defence survived.
West Park opened strongly in the 2nd half, but were again soon on the back
foot, when after strong forward drives from Otliensians a penalty was
awarded on the right, the home side decided to opt for the scrum. The
decision was vindicated as they drove the West Park pack backwards, to work
right wing Hammond in to the corner for his first ever Otliensians score
after 46 minutes, at 8-8 the game was finely poised. Otliensians immediately
pressed again, and after some more determined work, good line out ball on
the right, resulted in two powerful drives to the line for prop Bonner to
force himself over for the 13-8 lead after 53 minutes.
West Park again showed their mettle and slowly began to gain territory, and
there was cut and thrust in mid field before the defining period of the game
when the referee very harshly awarded a yellow card against Tom Woods for an
alleged high tackle, that at its most grievous hit his opponent on the
shoulder as he ducked in. This seemed to re energise the West Park team who
again began to look well organised with good lines of running and aggresive
forward drives, however the depleted Otliensians forced their way up field
and Foster was awarded a penalty after 70 minutes. The crowd watched as the
ball agonisingly hit the post, the home team retreated for wht they thought
would be a drop out, but West Park attacked down the right wing, he kept
running, the defence seemed to be tracking him, he kept running and scored a
wonderful try as he was tackled in the corner flag. Another lapse of
concentration by Otliensians, another try conceded to level the scores at
13-13.
West Park were now sensing the victory, and after 78 minutes they were
awarded a penalty that was superbly converted by the centre, the game was
over for Otliensians, the great escape completed by West Park.
Report supplied by the coach, Gary Walker.
HUDDERSFIELD B 43 – OLD OTLIENSIANS A 13
For their first ever visit to Huddersfield
3rds in this Merit Table encounter, ‘Ensians hit heavy traffic en route and
the kick off had to be delayed until 3.45 pm. On top of this, when they saw
the size of the opposition pack, they realised they were in for a difficult
afternoon.
From the off, the home side put ‘Ensians under a lot of pressure and their
big forwards had the edge in the scrums which made life difficult for half
backs Aiden Carr and Dominic Oddy. After three minutes Huddersfield took the
lead with a penalty, but as the visitors settled down, they hit back with a
superb try by centre Sam Grey who sliced through from 25 yards out. The
conversion by full back Matt Tenniswood gave ‘Ensians a 7 – 3 lead after 8
minutes.
Realising they may not have things all their own way, the home side used
their forwards to drive through a lineout for their second try and a penalty
soon after gave them a 11 – 7 lead on 23 minutes. ‘Ensians backs were now
coming more into the game and with full back Tenniswood joining the line at
pace, play moved into the Huddersfield half. When they transgressed,
Tenniswood kicked a long-range penalty to lift the score to creditable 11 –
10 to the home side on 30 minutes.
In the remaining ten minutes of the half, the home side added a penalty and
scored another try through their robust pack. With the last play of the
half, Matt Tenniswood converted his second penalty to make the score a
respectable 19 – 13 at the break.
Having the upper hand in both scrums and lineouts and seeing the pace of the
‘Ensians backs, Huddersfield’s tactics in the second half relied more and
more on their dominant pack. Starved of ball for long periods, the visitors
had to defend valiantly with the back row of Peter Gillson, Andy Bower and
Joe Robinson always to the fore. Pressure told and two more converted tries
were scored by the home side on 47 and 55 minutes to make the score 33 – 13.
With the heat and the opposition pack gradually taking their toll, ‘Ensians
began to tire in the last ten minutes when Huddersfield ran in a further try
and kicked another penalty to produce the final score of 43 – 13.
This was a game where ‘Ensians were very much in contention at half time,
but the large Huddersfield pack gradually wore them down and an injury to
skipper Andy Hayward added to the visitors’ problems. ‘Ensians’ backs played
some enterprising rugby and the whole side could take credit for a spirited
defence.
Report supplied by John Harrison.
‘Ensians B team game was cancelled when
visitors Selby could not raise a 5th team. |
