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Old Otliensians 1stXV 24 pts vs Goole 19 pts
More Photos Here!
Whilst not quite "The Great Escape", this
comeback victory had all the hallmarks of a team that were prepared to fight
for each other to the end, with pride, passion and no mean skill, against a
very competent and committed Goole side, who for the first 50 minutes of
this game had shown their full repertoire, and seemingly sealed victory with
a very comfortable and well deserved 19-0 lead.
Goole opened with confidence and took the game straight to Otliensians
through their powerful and well drilled pack, testing the home resolve to
the full in the scrum, and competing ferociously in the contact areas, and
as early as the 9th minute the visitors used their scrum advantage to great
effect with a well conceived and executed blindside move. On 11 minutes
Arbuckle was very harshly sin binned for an innocuous offence, but during
this period the home team rallied in to the gale force elements and began to
construct some pressure phases of their own.
It was however Goole who scored the a converted try after 29 minutes when
they won a line out on the right, following another slick handling movement
to set up the position, the ball was thrown long and the flanker raced in
from 22 metres for a 12-0 half time lead.
Goole continued in the same vain from the start of the second half,
excellent driving play from the pack, pressure in the scrum, good movement
behind, with strong penetrating runners in the back row, one of whom burst
through several tackles on his way to a converted try on 45 minutes and what
looked like the unassailable 19-0 lead.
However, as they have proved over the last few seasons the home side are
resilient, have good organisation, and a spirit that on this day shone
through, as the fight back began in the 50th minute from turnover ball on
the right, quick hands to the left released Lee O'Donnell for the line
break, the off load to Howell left him with the run in to the left hand
corner to reduce the arrears to 19-5. The home side reorganised with Foster
moving up to fly half, and from a scrum on the left Foster and O'Donnell
produced a sublime midfield move, the ball was transferred to Tinknall who
outpaced the defence to score wide on the right after 62 minutes, the
deficit now 19-10.
Although Goole were still dominant in the scrum, Otliensians were winning
good line out ball through Gray, and the backs began to run at their
opponents who were now firmly on the back foot. Again another well disguised
middle "run around" fed Tinknall who to the delight of the crowd again
scattered the defence in the 72nd minute to score on the right, Foster's
conversion narrowed the gap to 19-17, with the momentum now firmly with the
home side.
As the minutes ticked by, Otliensians began a series of phases taking the
ball to the visitors, who now seemed to be running out of steam, and the
decisive score was manufactured on 77 minutes with Kristian Keinhorst taking
the ball, and feeding Tinknall, the forwards executed several pick and
drives, before Nick Keinhorst forced his way over on the left for Foster to
convert, giving Otliensians the 24-19 margin, and the lead for the first
time.
The final whistle sounded and the home team and supporters celebrated a
famous victory, although Goole who had dominated for long periods should be
congratulated on their performance and contribution to a memorable game.
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