Hemsworth 34 pts vs Old Otliensians 18
pts
Having won the toss the home side elected to
play up the slope in the first half. Handling conditions were difficult
with persistent rain and a greasy ball. Nevertheless, both sides opted to
run the ball early on and showed good handling skills despite the weather.
Hemsworth took an early lead on eight minutes when their stand-off cut
through the Old Otliensian defence to score wide out on the right. The
conversion was missed giving the home side a 5-0 lead. The visitors then
had a sustained period of possession and territory resulting in two
Kristian Keinhorst penalties for a 6-5 lead.
Midway through the first half Ieuan Cranswick gathered a high ball on his
own 10 metre line. He set off on a superb diagonal run dummying his way
through the first line of defence and into the opposition 22. The home
side were stretched and only a last-ditch tackle prevented the visitors
from scoring a try. Unfortunately, this appeared to galvanise the home
team whose backs were becoming more and more confident moving the ball
around in the slippery conditions.
Hemsworth finished the half stronger and two flowing moves from their
backs resulted in tries for the right wing and the full-back. Both were
converted to give the home side a 19-6 half time lead. Old Otliensians'
plight was not helped with injuries to Rob Lofthouse who had to leave the
field shortly before half-time and Cranswick who had to leave the field
shortly after half-time. The double set-back clearly upset the visitors’
game plan and during the first twenty minutes of the second half Hemsworth
took full advantage adding a penalty and two more tries to lead by 34-6.
The visitors showed real character in the final twenty minutes of the
game. With veterans Richard Crossley at scrum-half and Peter Tempest on
the wing they started to peg the home side back in their own 22. Keinhorst
kicked superbly to the corners and the forwards put the home pack under
immense pressure. On 66 minutes Sam Featherstone was driven over by the
‘Ensians pack. An excellent conversion from the touch-line reduced the
deficit to 34-13. Then on 75 minutes an identical drive from a 5-metre
line-out on the opposite side of the field resulted in prop forward Rob
Lyon being driven over. The conversion was missed and this was to be the
final score of the game.
The visitors finished the stronger and can take a great deal of credit
from the final twenty minutes.
OORUFC 2ndXV vs Roundhegians Vets
James in action for the 2ndXV against
Roundhegians Vets 08/10/2011.
Click the Pic for morePhotos!
OLD OTLIENSIANS “A” 7 Pts versus
ROUNDHEGIANS VETS 26 Pts
Continuous drizzle resulting in greasy
conditions resulted in a rather scrappy game. After 20 minutes of play it
became obvious that the older ’Hegians players were adapting better to the
slippery ball and scored an unconverted try wide out.
The visitors were keeping their possession tight depriving the “Ensians of
the ball. However ‘Hegians tired in the last 10 minutes of the first half
resulting in a fine try by Peter Bonner after fine drives by the forwards
with Mesher Smith and Ross Nicholls to the fore. The try was converted by
Matt Tenniswood giving ‘Ensians the lead by 7pts to 5pts.A little more
steadiness would have produced a second try just before half time but the
chance slipped away.
Due to a succession of injuries ‘Ensians had a reshuffle substantially at
half time and, following turnover ball, the visitors scored wide out
followed by an excellent conversion. Five minutes later ‘Hegians scored a
further converted try to make the score 7pts to 19pts.
’Ensians went into the opposition 22 on numerous occasions with Matt
Tenniswood’s telling touch kicks gaining many yards. From two of these his
brother Brett stole possession from the resultant line outs but the
‘Hegians defence held firm. The visitors scored another converted try
after 63 minutes. ’Ensians made further skirmishes into the visitor’s 22
but were unable to cross the line leaving ‘Hegians the winners by 26
points to 7.
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