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Baildon 15 pts vs OLD OTLIENSIANS 1stXV 31 pts
On a rare occasion when there was no wind at
Baildon, ‘Ensians started with the slope in their favour and immediately
went into the attack through centres Andy Hayward and Lee O’Donnell. Play
went up to the Baildon line and on 4 minutes good rucking enabled flanker
James Holland to go over for a try near the posts which was converted by
Nick Keinhorst. The hosts responded at once by showing that they had some
pace and experience in their back division and when the visitors strayed
offside, Nick Lister converted a penalty to take the score to 3 – 7 on 8
minutes.
The ‘Ensians front row of Phil Cook, Rob Lyon and Tom Twist gradually
achieved complete domination in the scrums and debutant scrum half Sam
Clewes and half back partner John Ratahi made use of quality possession to
launch their backs. Baildon defended well, but the pressure told and when
skipper James Duggan made a strong run into the home 22, the ball was
moved from the subsequent ruck to No. 8 Rob Arbuckle who went over half
way out on 20 minutes. The conversion failed leaving the score at 12 – 3
to the visitors.
The pressure continued with locks Chris Howells and Sam Gray making big
inroads into Baildon territory and ever-present flanker Holland was there
to round off some good interplay to go over for his second try on 25
minutes. The next ten minutes belonged to ‘Ensians with Gray and Duggan
producing quick ball from the line outs and good forward play saw both
Gray and Arbuckle came close. Holland made a telling run from deep and his
offload to Goakes saw the winger stopped a yard short. On 38 minutes the
trademark reverse flick pass from the promising Clewes put Duggan over
near the posts, followed by a conversion from Nick Keinhorst which lifted
the score to 24 – 3 to the visitors.
At the break, James Holland replaced the injured Lee O’Donnell in the
centre and Peter Gillson took on the flanker role with Collum Hanogue
replacing Arbuckle. In the front row, Ross Myers replaced Cook. With the
slope in their favour, Baildon began mounting some serious attacks and
only strong tackling by the back three of Richard Goakes, Kristian
Keinhorst and brother Nicholas kept the lively opposition backs at bay.
From being in control in the scrums, the visitors found they were on the
back foot and young scrum half Clewes often had untidy ball to deal with.
Although both sides attempted to play open rugby, things became scrappy
and frustration began to show when the visitors gave away a succession of
penalties and managed to get on the wrong side of the referee.
Baildon now had their tails up and after a kick through was fumbled, they
put together a smart move to see lock Beaumont go over half way out on 67
minutes. Although the conversion failed, they mounted further attacks
through forwards and backs to put Beaumont over for his second try three
minutes later. The successful conversion by Lister took the score to 24 –
15 in ‘Ensians favour on 70 minutes and they realised the game was far
from over.
Through Duggan, Holland and Rob Lyon, the visitors buckled down and took
play into the home 22 where Duggan went over only to have the ball knocked
from his grasp as he tried to ground it. Pressure continued and when a
home defender flattened James Holland with a dangerously high tackle as he
headed for the line, the referee awarded a penalty try. Nick Keinhorst’s
conversion lifted the score to more comfortable 31 – 15 to the visitors on
72 minutes.
Baildon were not finished and in the final few minutes, they used their
lively backs to make further inroads into ‘Ensians’ territory. Winger
Richard Goakes injured his hand in a tackle and had to leave the field
leaving the visitors to play out the last four minutes with fourteen men.
Although individuals played well in the second period, the cohesion of the
first half was missing allowing the home side to get back in the game.
This game ended up as a welcome away victory, but ‘Ensians will be
disappointed that, after an encouraging performance in the first half,
they allowed play to become scrappy and undisciplined in the second
period.
OORUFC 2ndXV 50 pts vs Doncaster Phoenix
12 pts
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OORUFC 3rdXV 56 pts vs York 4ths 24 pts
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