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OLD OTLIENSIANS 1stXV 31 pts vs AIREBOROUGH
7 pts
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In near perfect conditions, ‘Ensians took the
initiative from the kick-off by driving into the visitors’ half. After two
minutes Aireborough transgressed and backchat moved the penalty into
kickable range, but James Keinhorst’s kick was narrowly wide. The hosts
remained on the attack and good drives by lock James Duggan and No.8 Rob
Arbuckle took play up to the Aireborough line. After further
pick-and-drives, prop Rob Lyon forced his way over half way out. The
conversion by James Keinhorst produced a 7 – 0 lead after 5 minutes.
The lively ‘Ensians back row of Sam Gray, Arbuckle and James Holland
continued to dominate play at the breakdown and Aireborough had to defend
strongly for the next ten minutes. Quick ball through half backs Tim
Rushfirth and John Ratahi enabled centre Will Foster and full back James
Keinhorst to come close, but the visitors’ defence held out. ‘Ensians should
really have had another couple of tries in the first 20 minutes, but, as
Aireborough at last began to settle, they came more into the game and they
gained territory through some good interplay between their backs. The scrums
were more or less even with both sides struggling to get tidy ball at times,
but endeavouring to move the ball wide at every opportunity.
Stalwart defence from both sides kept scoring opportunities to a minimum,
but as the home side pressed in the opposition 22, slick passing from a ruck
created space on the right for Arbuckle to go over for a well taken try on
30 minutes. James Keinhorst’s conversion gave the home side a 14 – 0 lead.
Aireborough were undaunted and took play into the ‘Ensians half with some
enterprising back play. Untidy ball from a scrum saw the hosts caught in
possession and the turnover allowed the Aireborough fly half Nick Holdsworth
to place an inch-perfect kick into the corner for winger Stephen Nolson to
win the race for the touch down in the corner. A superb touchline conversion
by Ollie Catherall took the score to 14 – 7 on 32 minutes.
Now realising that they were very much back in the game, Aireborough stepped
up the pace and with centres Mark Druce and Craig Stanley making inroads in
to the home side’s territory, ‘Ensians found themselves defending for long
periods with the back three of Richard Goakes, James Keinhorst and Nick
Keinhorst coping well with a series of attacks. As the half time whistle
came, ‘Ensians realised that they had to step up the pace in the second
period if they were come out on top.
After the break, Lee O’Donnell replaced Ratahi and Phil Cook came on for
lock Chris Howells. With James Duggan and Sam Gray getting good ball from
the lineouts, ‘Ensians began to mount attacks through fly half Will Foster
and centres O,Donnell and Kristian Keinhorst, but Aireborough were quick to
capitalise on any mistakes with swift counter-attacks. After 10 minutes of
fairly even play, the breakthrough for the home side came when full back
James Keinhorst attacked from deep, linked with brother Kristian who put in
a deft chip ahead. Winger Goakes following up at top speed snatched the ball
on the bounce and outpaced the cover to score wide out. Although the
conversion failed, the 19 – 7 score gave the home side a more comfortable
margin on 52 minutes.
With their confidence restored, the lively ‘Ensians pack set about making
life difficult for the visitors, with prop Tony Myers, lock Duggan and
flanker James Holland always to the fore. From pressure on the Aireborough
line, a flick back pass from scrum half Rushfirth found skipper Duggan
steaming up on the inside to storm over near the posts. The conversion by
James Keinhorst lifted the score to 26 – 7 on 56 minutes.
Aireborough were far from finished and their pack put together some powerful
driving mauls and for several minutes they pounded the ‘Ensians’ line, but
staunch defence from Phil Cook, Duggan, Ross Myers and Arbuckle managed to
keep the line clear. On 76 minutes, the home backs managed to break out of
defence and centre Lee O’Donnell made a strong run up to halfway, he popped
the ball to James Keinhorst who used his pace to beat two defenders and pass
inside to winger Richard Goakes backing up down the middle who went over for
his second try. James Keinhorst’s conversion made the score 33 – 7 and for
the remaining four minutes, ‘Ensians remained on the attack.
For their part, Aireborough put together some good phases of play and
competed resolutely in an entertaining game played in a good spirit.
‘Ensians came out on top because their pack was generally livelier in the
loose, their backs had that bit of extra pace and, apart from one lapse,
their hard-working defence was solid throughout.
AIREBOROUGH 20 pts vs OLD OTLIENSIANS
2ndXV 28 pts
OLD OTLIENSIANS 3rdXV 40 pts vs AIREBOROUGH
8 pts
More pictures here
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