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Old Otliensians 1stXV 22 pts vs Doncaster
Phoenix 15 pts
More Photos Here!
Otliensians won a very hard fought victory on
Saturday, going someway to erase the earlier season rout, and once again
showed the potential that lies within this young team for both the rest of
this season and beyond.
The game started with the home side going through phases, not seen for some
time, and placing significant pressure on Doncaster, who seemed taken aback
by the skill and passion shown within the Otliensians ranks. the pressure
was rewarded after 13 minutes when a well constructed line out on the left,
lead to driving play in midfield, for Tinknall to be released from 45 metres
on one of his trademark barracking 45 metre runs to the posts, for the
returning Foster to convert.
Doncaster almost immediately came back in to the game, showing excellent
movement in the backs from a quickly taken penalty, swinging the ball from
left to right and scoring in the right hand corner to reduce the deficit to
7 - 5 after 18 minutes. The game settled in to a pattern of thrust and
counter thrust, both sets of forwards relishing the close exchanges, with
the Doncaster backs stretching the well organised Otliensians defence, but
after 29 minutes Arbuckle made the line break and from the ensuing penalty
Foster extended the lead to 10 - 5.
On the very stroke of half time, Doncaster won their scrum in the middle of
the park, took the ball right and scored a well constructed try in the
corner to leave the teams level at 10 - 10 going in to the break.
The importance of the second half could not be exaggerated, but it was
Doncaster who opened the stronger, using their inventive backs to pressure
the home lines once more, the ball went through many pairs of hands, some
would say not always legally, but a fine score in the right hand corner
after 59 minutes gave Doncaster the 15 - 10 advantage, and the lead for the
first time.
Otliensians showed tremendous spirit, with the pack to the fore taking the
game to the visitors and it wasn't long before another line out win on 59
minutes by Gray on the left, lead to Doncaster having to hastily kick the
ball to clear their lines, the grateful Nick Keinhorst gathered, passed to
Tinknall who again showed his strength and speed to brush aside three
defenders on his way to the posts. At 15 - 15 the luck and omens for once
seemed good for Otliensians, but the conversion in front was missed, it
looked like the luck had again gone when Fosters penalty on 66 minutes
rebounded off the bar, and his raking kick to the corner on 73 minutes
bounced agonisingly one foot the wrong side of the corner flag. but
Otliensians were not content with the draw and gave it everything in the
last five minutes, attacking in waves until eventually the luck that has
eluded them all season, brought the score and two points in the very last
play of the game.
Kristian Keinhorst kicked high behind the Doncaster defence from right to
left, Nick keinhorst rose and tapped the ball down, regathering on the
ground before releasing the supporting Tinknall for his hat trick, the 22 -
15 victory was completed with the Foster conversion, before play was halted
by the referee.
A satisfying win, achieved by all 18 players giving their last ounce of
energy, right until the very last second.
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