Old
Otliensians 1st XV 15 pts vs Castleford 1st XV 11 pts
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For the last home League game of the season
Otliensians gave one of their best displays to defeat a Castleford side that
are very well resourced, must play on the wettest pitch in Yorkshire, and
have seen an influx of players from higher leagues that has helped them to
secure the second promotion spot leaving Otliensians in 3rd place, assuming
their resources do not run out and they achieve a further victory from their
two remaining league games.
Otliensians won the toss and elected to play against the elements in the
first half, in what proved to be a very determined and skilful display, full
of pride and passion, matching the excellent Castleford fifteen at every
turn.
Castleford began at a rare pace, using both their forwards and backs to try
and penetrate the solid Otliensians defensive patterns, but they were
thwarted time and again as the Otliensians tacklers lead by Hayward and
Foster in the backs and Percy in the forwards rocked them back with energy
sapping offensive hits. As the half wore on Otliensians began to exert their
own pressure, and the driving game of Smith, Duggan, Bonner and Arbuckle
began to punch holes around the fringes, whilst the front row of Myers, Lyon
and Percy dominated their much vaunted opponents. The unfortunate Markus
Keinhorst was injured at the forefront of the action, but the evergreen
Brett Tenniswood once again filled the breach admirably, before making way
after 45 minutes of unremitting work for the rejuvenated Grey who scavenged
on the ground magnificently.
Castleford were reduced to taking pot shots at goal and opened their account
with two long range penalties after 22 and 24 minutes, and scored the only
try of the first half in injury time, as just reward for their line out
superiority, stealing Otliensians ball on the right touchline before
efficiently handling for the outside centre to score on the left, with a
deficit of 11 - 0 the Otliensians players knew the game was there for the
taking.
As the second half developed both Birch and Kristian Keinhorst managed the
game very effectively, using the elements to keep the ball in front of the
now dominant pack, with Matt Tenniswood and Cuff taking the ball up with
devastating effect from the back, it was only a matter of being patient
before the first score and this was provided by the skipper Smith on 57
minutes. A number of phases were constructed by the Otliensians combined
resources, before a dynamic rolling maul was set 10 metres from the
Castleford line, the maul rumbled on leaving the opposition in its wake, and
from the bottom a beaming Smith emerged triumphant.
The next 10 minutes proved crucial as first Jon Woods on the right wing made
another electric break outside the covering defence, and Matt Tenniswood
scythed through more defenders, in what was proving to be his best display
of the season. From one such run the ball was recycled and moved from left
to right, as the move seemed to slow the Otliensians handling was electric
with interpassing taking the ball back to the left touchline for Arbuckle to
crash through the remnants of the defence after 67 minutes, Foster converted
and hit a penalty after 74 minutes to leave the home side 15 - 11 to the
good.
Castleford however were not for accepting defeat and to their great credit
came back in the final minutes with a barnstorming break from their renowned
prop forward, but encapsulating the whole Otliensians effort was winger Jon
Woods who as the last line of defence brought the rampaging prop to ground,
suffering injury in the process which lead to him been supported from the
pitch to the jubilant cheers of the Chaffers Field faithful, bolstered by
Old Boys who were attending a reunion lunch and the welcome appearance of
Paul Deeley.
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