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OLD OTLIENSIANS 1stXV 5 pts –
THORNENSIANS 37 pts
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With the sun softening the frozen ground,
‘Ensians took to the field with several changes; experienced Richard
Crossley filled the flanker berth and Stuart Cockburn returned from injury
at full back. After some even early exchanges, the visitors produced an
overlap and scored a converted try in the corner on 5 minutes to take a 7
– 0 lead.
The ‘Ensians pack then responded with some strong scrummaging with the
front row of Ben Newall, Ross Myers and Michael Groves having the edge.
Lock Sam Gray and flanker Sam Featherstone were producing good ball from
the lineout and the home pack began to control play, starving Thornensians
of the ball.
Good driving by skipper Rob Arbuckle, Sam Gray and Richard Crossley took
play up to the opposition line, but robust defence kept them out. When
they moved the ball wide, centre Dominic Oddy came close and scrum half
Aidan Carr produced some sniping runs. When the visitors infringed, fly
half Kristian Keinhorst hit the posts with two penalty attempts.
Sam Gray and Rob Arbuckle were pulled down short and Aidan Carr just
failed as he dived over in the corner. The hosts continued to dominate
play for some twenty minutes when the opposition hooker suffered what
appeared to be a serious back injury. Play stopped for 45 minutes whilst
an ambulance came on to the pitch to provide treatment and take the
injured player to hospital.
The referee then decided to call half time and play a 50-minute second
half. ‘Ensians continued where they had left off and dominated play
through their pack. On 40 minutes, Rob Arbuckle was rewarded with a try
halfway out after a powerful run. The conversion narrowly failed taking
the score to 7 – 5 to the visitors.
On 50 minutes the lively Thornensians backs handled and backed up well to
score an unconverted try and followed this with a penalty on 56 minutes to
stretch their lead to 15 – 5. Young winger Rob Lofthouse replaced Cockburn
at full back, Featherstone moved to the wing and Richard Paley filled the
gap in the forwards.
As the home cover began to tire, the visiting backs showed good lines of
attack and ran in two tries on 68 and 72 minutes to extend their lead to
27 – 5. Long kicks by home fly half Kristian Keinhorst took play into the
opposition 22 and there were good forward drives involving Michael Groves,
Ross Myers and lock Alan Harker, but the score would not come. Andy Bower
came on in the centre for the injured Dominic Oddy.
As the light faded, Thornensians speedy back division engineered two more
tries to take the final score to 37 – 5. ‘Ensians were very much in this
game for the first hour, but as they gradually ran out of steam, the
visiting back division was able to develop in confidence and dominate the
last quarter.
OLD OTLIENSIANS 2ndXV 21pts vs Wharfedale
4thXV 32pts
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After playing little rugby for some weeks
‘Ensians were rather rusty at the start, but still managed to take the
lead after 5 minutes with a fine long distance penalty by Matt Tenniswood.
Wharfedale had sportingly lent a prop to ‘Ensians to play contested
scrums. Wharfedale’s well organised forwards took control of the game for
the next 25 minutes and despite solid defensive work by ‘Ensians, the home
team were unable to prevent 2 tries from rolling mauls and a third in the
corner following a good movement across the , one being converted to make
the score 17 points to 3 in favour of the visitors.
‘Ensians then settled down and worked hard together. A further penalty by
Matt.Tenniswood boosted their confidence and a great interception try was
scored by Ben Smith when he sprinted 50 yards to the line.The conversion
and a further penalty by Matt Tenniswood made a half time score of 17
points to 16 in favour of the “green machine”.
‘Dale started the 2nd half by attacking strongly but this was thwarted by
fine defence with the whole ‘Ensian team tackling valiantly. Brett
Tenniswood and Alan Garnett were gaining good lineout ball and centre
Simon Grundy was making telling breaks into Wharfedale territory. However
‘Dale scored a converted try in the 55th minute but ‘Ensians fought back
and Pete Tempest scored a gutsy try in the corner to move the score to
Ensians 21 - ‘Dale 24.
‘Ensians gave away a penalty and late in the game ‘Dale scored an
unconverted try, making a rather flattering final score of 21 points to 32
points in favour of the visitors after a well fought game.
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