OORUFC Match Report
30th September 2017


Hemsworth 10 vs 27 OORUFC

On what started off as a pleasant mild calm autumn day 'Ensians travelled to Hemsworth hoping to continue their excellent start to the season. Matches at Hemsworth have always proved difficult in the past with a fairly narrow sloping pitch and a home team knowing how to exploit this.

Hemsworth played with the slope in the first half and immediately moved into the visitors' territory but their fine defence held and a good relieving kick by Nick Keinhorst saved the day. After 10 minutes a penalty took 'Ensians into the home 22 for the first time ,they moved into attack but the home defence was good ,and after 14 minutes a penalty attempt by Connor Bateman from 40 metres rattled the upright but stayed out. Great lineout ball from Captain Sam Featherstone kept 'Ensians in the ascendancy but Hemsworth came back strongly and after 25 minutes took the lead with a well struck penalty goal.

Much of the play took place in the Visitors' 22 with the home team using their big forwards to attempt to crash through the defence. However they were kept at bay by stout defence with the help of relieving kicks by Tobias Gill and Luke Cowdell.

'Ensians gained reward with a 40 metre penalty by Connor Bateman after 32 minutes and following an attack with Luke Cowdell and Paddy Phipps to the fore a further penalty by Connor Bateman gave the visitors the lead. Hemsworth fought back and following a penalty battered the 'Ensians line for the last 5 minutes of the half and scored a converted try on the stroke of half time to retake the lead by 10 points to 6 just as the heavy rain which affected the whole of the 2nd half started.

The visitors started the 2nd half in convincing fashion. A neat chip by Ollie Eaves was continued in a clever fashion by Nick Keinhorst who kept the ball in play and dived over to score a great try converted by Connor Bateman. It was now the visitors' opportunity to turn the screw .A charged down kick by Will Cooper came close to scoring ,and despite the rain which hampered their handling the visitors tried their best to move the ball .However the strong Hemsworth defence held firm .

Despite the territorial advantage there was no further score until the last 10 minutes ,when Will Cooper collected good ball and gave a fine pass to Alistair Booth who broke the defence to dive over the line to score a try converted by Connor Bateman and to enable the spectators to breathe a little easier with the score reaching 20 –10.

Hemsworth were tiring noticeably ,the visitor's scrum was pushing them backwards ,and Sam Featherstone was having a field day in the linesouts.Hemsworth's only foray out of their own 22 was a relieving 60 metre run into the visitor's half but the visitors attacked again resulting in a try by Tobias Gill converted by Connor Bateman. Strive as they may in the remaining 4 minutes the visitors just could not achieve the bonus point try.

The final score was a win by 'Ensians by 27 point to 10, a good result in the wet conditions, a win at Hemsworth is always difficult.