Hullensians 43pts vs OLD OTLIENSIANS 1stXV
7pts
OLD OTLIENSIANS 2ndXV 69pts vs Halifax
Vandals 5pts
Matty fends of a Halfax defender
more photos!
For this Merit Table match ‘Ensians
demonstrated from the off that they were keen to make amends for the
previous week’s defeat. The forwards, with the front row of Ben Newall,
Steve Robinson and Tony Myers, totally dominated the early scrums and full
back Matt Tenniswood slotted a penalty on 8 minutes. With play taking place
mainly in Halifax territory, half backs Peter Boultby and Phil Purnell
launched several attacking moves and on 11 minutes, winger Darren Cooley
rounded his opposite number to score a fine try. Tenniswood’s conversion
took the score to 10 – 0.
As the visitors settled down, their defence snuffed out several promising
home moves, but, with overall dominance in the pack, Tony Myers crashed
through on 25 minutes to re-start the scoring. Cooley burned down the
touchline for his second on 33 minutes to be followed by good tries from
flanker Mike Ferandino on 37 minutes and Cooley’s hat trick on the stroke of
half time. Conversions by Tenniswood gave the home side a very comfortable
36 – 0 lead.
At the break, Liam Copping and Sean Flesher came on in the backs and Dave
Beardsley in the pack. Flankers Ferandino and Ben Tetley were first to any
loose ball and Michael Philpott had an excellent game at No.8. Following
good hands by both forwards and backs, Myers forced his way over for his
second try on 47 minutes and fly half Sean Kennedy cut through to score wide
out on 50 minutes. Tenniswood converted one of these and then blasted his
way down the middle to score under the posts on 58 minutes to take the score
to 55 – 0 to the home side. With lock Ben Smith and flanker Ben Tetley
having a slight edge in the lineouts, the plentiful supply of ball continued
and when the ball was spun wide, winger Liam Copping outpaced the cover to
score half way out on 66 minutes, Tenniswood adding the conversion.
Despite being outplayed in almost every department, Vandals never gave up
and it was to their credit that they drove up field and went over for an
unconverted consolation try on 70 minutes. Three minutes later Tenniswood
responded with another powerful run for a second try and his conversion on
73 minutes rounded off the scoring. This was a fine back-to-form display of
fifteen man rugby by ‘Ensians against a plucky Halifax side.
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