Old Otliensians 2nd XV 5 pts vs Otley XV 27 pts
Bonzo scores our only points of the afternoon
See this and more photos here
With West Park Leeds unable to raise ether a
2nd or 3rd XV , Otliensians 3rd XV played a Yarnbury 3rd XV and the
arrangement was that 2nd XV would take on an Otley Saracens side which would
include members of the 3rd XV since the Otley 1st XV were decimated by
injury.
Otley arrived with many members of their development squad who produced some
fine handling moves in the first quarter of the game as the Ensians tried to
come to terms both mentally and physically with the pace of the play. Otley
stormed ahead and were soon leading 22- 0 pts but the Ensians pack certainly
had not given up the fight and were able to win ball in the tight assisted
by good work from Peter Bonner. The Ensians after their easy win last week
against weak opposition gradually eased back into the game with some
determination and Phil Purnell regrouped his line well and they also began
to produce some attacking play and the defence gradually tightened. From one
attack Bonner went over from short range and the score was 22- 5 pts in
Otley's favour at the break.
Ensians kept up their efforts in the second half with Otley scoring only one
more try losing by a relatively respectable 27 - 5 pts after what had all
the signs of being a thrashing.
OLD OTLIENSIANS 3rd XV 12 pts vs YARNBURY
3rd XV 28 pts
Brett scores in the corner
See this and more photos here
For this clash with their local rivals,
‘Ensians line-up included former 1st XV centre Andy Hayward playing his
first game since injury in September. From the kick-off Yarnbury went
straight into the attack through their back division and good support play
brought them a try and conversion after only five minutes.
With ‘Yarnbury stealing some of the home side’s lineout ball, they continued
to mount a series of flowing attacking moves and the result was another
converted try after ten minutes. Despite strong tackling by centres Hayward
and Lee O’Donnell, ‘Ensians were having problems coping with the
strong-running visitors’ back division with their full-back providing some
thrusting interventions. Another converted try followed and after only
fifteen minutes ’Ensians were facing a worrying twenty-one point deficit.
Encouraging words from skipper Will Haines boosted confidence levels and the
home side began to make use of solid scrummage ball from the front row of
Dave Beardsley, Ross Myers and Richard Wardak. Half-backs Peter Gilson and
Haines got their back line moving and with thrusting runs from Hayward and
Lee O’Donnell,
it was the turn of Yarnbury to defend. With full back Sean Flesher linking
up well, ‘Ensians were unlucky not to get on the score sheet as they came up
to half time.
At the break, experienced ‘Ensians players Sean Kennedy came on in the
centre and Dan Ridgway at flanker. However, from the re-start, a strong back
move from Yarnbury caught the defence on the wrong foot and a converted try
left ‘Ensians trailing by twenty eight points. The home side woke up and
launched a series of attacks with centres Kennedy and Hayward putting
Yarnbury under a lot of pressure. With Brett Tenniswood getting cleaner ball
from the lineout, the pressure mounted and only a last-ditch tackle
prevented Lee O’Donnell going over in the corner.
The home side were rewarded a few minutes later when flanker Ridgway dived
over after good pressure from locks Brett Tenniswood and Andy Wood,
well-supported by Number 8 Alan Garnett and scrum-half Peter Gilson. Will
Haines converted to make the score 28 – 7 to the visitors.
The quality of rugby improved as both sides moved the ball about at every
opportunity and lock Tenniswood scored a good try in the corner after a fine
break by Sean Kennedy. The conversion failed and the re-start saw Yarnbury
mounting further strong attacks. Only a tremendous try-saving tackle by
Number 8 Alan Garnett prevented a score in the corner.
‘Ensians continued to have the best of the closing minutes in this enjoyable
match, but the score remained at 28 –12 in Yarnbury’s favour. The home side
could feel justifiably satisfied at outscoring their opponents in the second
half when earlier, it looked as though the game might run away from them.
On Saturday the 1st XV travel to Sheffield Oaks for a key League game;
Oaks had a good win last week and will be a difficult proposition on their
own ground. Ensians won 21 - 16 pts at Chaffers Fields in early November.
The 2nd and 3rd XV's are scheduled to play Morley 3rd and 4th XV's
|