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OLD OTLIENSIANS 29 vs Wath Upon Dearne 5
Ensians score in the 2nd half
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Otliensians produced their best half of rugby
of the season in this potentially dangerous battle at the bottom of the
table to open a 22-0 lead at half time that proved decisive and stretched
their lead over Wath to 4 points going in to the second half of the season.
With the return of Bonner and Hanogue the starting pack had a more familiar
shape and they tore in to their opponents from the off, with Bonner,
Arbuckle and Hill to the fore, constant pressure was placed on the visitors
and this told after 8 minutes when after a series of punishing drives
Otliensians won a scrum on the right, used good quick hands with dummy
runners in the middle to send Gray over in the left hand corner. Robinson
and Tom Woods were dominating the lines, and with Lyon and Newall secure in
the front row, a very solid platform was secured, this lead to a Wath 22
drop out after 17 minutes where Jimmy Keinhorst gathered and ghosted through
the Wath defence over 50 metres before offloading on the right for Tinknell
to power over, Jimmy Keinhorst converted expertly and the lead had grown to
12 points.
The same patterns continued with Tinknell devastating in defence, ably
backed by his midfield partners Kristian Keinhorst and Ratahi, with Gray and
Nick Keinhorst always looking dangerous more scores looked inevitable, and
the pack produced a rousing series of drives and offloads from halfway to
send Hill over for the try after 21 minutes, with Jimmy Keinhorst adding the
conversion and a further penalty a very satisfactory half of rugby was
completed.
Wath came back strongly in the second half attempting to run the ball at
every opportunity, but with their pack been overpowered, and the
introduction of Howells and Dyson to add more impact they were living off
scraps, and the lead was extended after 52 minutes following a line out take
by Woods on the left, the ball was driven on for Ratahi and Newall to make
breaks before Hill charged over for his second try, Jimmy Keinhorst again
converted for the 29-0 lead.
The major differences that Otliensians have found in this higher league is
that virtually all mistakes are punished and this has been a cause for
frustration, and that sides do not roll over even when they are behind and
so it proved again with Wath upping their work rate considerably both in
defence and attack. However Otliensians also showed a steel and
determination in their defensive structure that thwarted Wath at very turn
until the very last play of the game when one of the Wath elusive midfield
players evaded three would be tacklers to score by the posts. The
Otliensians performance was then epitomised by Tinknell who rushed the
simple conversion charging it down with an excellent challenge.
The first half of the season has given Otliensians major injury problems,
but that has lead to the emergence of many new potential long term 1st XV
players who have stepped up from the lower teams and performed admirably in
difficult circumstances, and it is a credit to the continuing and
increasing strength in depth that now runs through the Club that through
this three teams have been maintained, with the 2nds & 3rds again winning
consistently.
OLD OTLIENSIANS B 20 - KEIGHLEY B 12
Flesh barges his way over
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On a pitch showing little signs of the recent
snow and frost, ‘Ensians squared up from the off to a big fast Keighley side
containing two first-teamers. Half backs Peter Tempest and Hugh Gumbs set
the tone when they drove down the middle and set up a promising back move
for centres Graham Bentley and Rob Grey to take play into the visitors’ 22.
Strong tackling stopped the move, but confident Keighley then realised they
had a serious game on their hands. They had a powerful No.8 and a lively set
of backs who moved the ball well from all parts of the field. In the scrums,
the home front row of Scott Child, Andy Rockett and Tom Twist had the edge
on their opposite numbers and good quality ball gave plenty of running
opportunities.
The Keighley backs always looked dangerous in possession and the back row of
Mark Copping, Alan Garnett and Jim Mc Dougall had its work cut out
supporting the mid-field defence and stemming the flow of attacks. With both
sides having chances, it was Otliensians who struck the first blow when good
inter-passing between forwards and backs set up lock Andy Wood for a charge
to the line. The conversion failed giving the home side a 5 – 0 lead on 18
minutes. Keighley came straight back with a series of speedy back moves, but
the back three of Robin Devereaux, Sean Flesher and Liam Copping fielded
chips through and tackled well to keep them at bay. The ‘Ensians pack
foraged well to take play to the visitors’ 22 and after a series of drives,
hooker Andy Rockett forced his way over on 30 minutes and Gumbs added the
conversion to lift the score to 12 – 0.
The departures of centre Bentley and prop Twist with injuries brought on
replacements Phil Purnell and Chris Myers, but the home side maintained its
composure with fly half Gumbs controlling events in mid field and gaining
ground with long kicks. Leading up to the break, both sides put some
promising moves together, but points did not come. In the second half, the
‘Ensians pack carried on in robust form with locks Ray Drake and Wood and
flanker McDougall testing the opposition with strong driving and rucking.
When Keighley infringed, Gumbs added the penalty to take the score to 15 – 0
on 42 minutes. This seemed to light a spark in the visitors who stepped up
the pace and mounted attack after attack for a prolonged period. Centres
Gumbs and Grey and scrum half Tempest tackled valiantly and the back row
worked hard in support. For twenty minutes, the home side barely got out of
their 22 and the pressure told when the Keighley winger crossed wide out for
an unconverted try to move the score to 15 – 5 on 65 minutes.
Realising the game was far from over, Otliensians took play into Keighley
territory and put together some promising back moves. In one glorious
diagonal run, winger Liam Copping sliced through four defenders, but the
offload near the line was adjudged forward. From a scrum on the right, slick
passing by the home backs saw full back Flesher make the extra man and dive
over on 70 minutes. Although the conversion narrowly failed, this was a
timely score and took some of the pressure off. Lock Ray Drake went off with
a leg injury and he was replaced by Brett Tenniswood who immediately brought
his lineout skills into play. Both sides continued to spread the ball wide,
but it was Keighley who eventually put together a sweeping move half the
length of the field to score under the posts on 78 minutes. The conversion
took the score to 20 – 12 to ‘Ensians who then played out the last two
minutes to record a fine victory.
This was a cracking game against strong opposition and it was teamwork and
strong defence which eventually saw Otliensians through.
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