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Hessle 41pts vs Old Otliensians 1stXV 8 pts
Old Otliensians 3rdXV 12pts vs Yarnbury 39
pts
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With a strong cross-field wind, ‘Ensians faced
up to a Yarnbury side which has a well-earned reputation for piling up the
points throughout the season. The early exchanges saw the home half backs
Peter Gilson and Dave Smith making inroads into the visitors’ territory,
with good runs from centres Graham Bentley and Andy Hayward. In the first
ten minutes ‘Ensians should have been two tries ahead, but a delayed pass
and a knock-on spoiled things. In the scrums, the home side did well with
the front row of Dave Beardsley, Ross Myers and Ray Drake having the nudge
on their opponents, but in the lineouts, Yarnbury were competing well for
every ball.
The stalemate was broken after 15 minutes when ‘Ensians transgressed in
their own 22 and the visitors struck a penalty. Three minutes later good
support play by the youthful Yarnbury backs produced a try under the posts
and the conversion gave them a 10 – 0 lead, even though territorially they
had been second best. ‘Ensians came back with strong forward drives from
locks Dan Ridgway and Mark Copping, but when the ball was moved wide,
indifferent passing spoiled several promising moves. On 30 minutes, the
speedy Yarnbury backs broke away and produced a fine try wide out, the
excellent conversion gave them a comfortable 17 – 0 lead which they tried to
build on leading up to half time.
At the break, Matt Tenniswood came on for injured winger Liam Copping and
Andy Bower and Chris Myers replaced Dan Ridgeway and Dave Beardsley. Whereas
the home side had problems handling in the strong wind, the visiting backs
put together frequent promising moves and one of these produced a good try
halfway out on 45 minutes. ‘Ensians then decided to tighten up the game and
some good drives by Ray Drake, Alan Garnett and Bower took play up to the
Yarnbury line. After several close calls, Andy Bower forced his way over to
the right of the posts and the conversion by Matt Tenniswood took the score
to 22 – 7 to the visitors.
Any thoughts that this score might produce a turnaround in fortunes were
quickly dispelled when the Yarnbury backs capitalised on a handling mistake
to score near the posts. With their tails up, the pace of their backs
continued to cause problems for the home defence and they ran in two further
tries to extend their lead to 39 – 7 after 70 minutes. Although ‘Ensians put
some promising back moves together, their handling was scrappy at times and
with the Yarnbury defence right in their faces, any breakdown in play was
punished by good counter attacking or sensible kicking.
‘Ensians had the last word when their pack put together a series of powerful
drives with Steve Lofthouse, Brett Tenniswood and Alan Garnett to the fore.
Dave Smith and Graham Bentley got within inches of the line, but it was wily
scrum half Peter Gilson who burrowed his way through half way out. The failed
conversion took the score to 39 – 12 to the visitors as the final whistle
went.
In this entertaining game, the young Yarnbury side lived up to its
reputation with a fine display of fast flowing rugby. ‘Ensians competed
well, particularly in the forwards, but they had no answer to the all-round
pace of the visitors.
Report by John Harrison
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