Will Cooper tries to break a tackle
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On a pleasant Autumnal Saturday with a light Westerly breeze and an excellent pitch 'Ensians entertained their neighbours from Bramhope to play what promised to be a tough match the visitors having scored 90 points the previous week.

The game started ominously after 4 minutes. The Home team failed to find touch from a penalty kick which West Park fielded and moved swiftly across their backs for the opposite winger to cross unopposed for an unconverted try.

Things went from bad to worse after 12 minutes when, despite decent tackling by 'Ensians, the visitors broke through to achieve a converted try making the score 12 points to nil.

For the next 20 minutes play was pretty inconclusive with 'Ensians holding their own ,but then the Home team opened up and a neat move involving Joe Tindall and Connor Bateman stretched the Park defence .The Visitors counter attacked strongly and it took a fine tackle by Connor Bateman to save the day.

Just before half time a 60 metre break by Will Cooper from near his own line brought cheers from the home crowd but the West Park defence held leaving the score at 12 points to nil in their favour.

With the light wind in their favour the home team started the second half with more confidence .They were holding the scrums against a heavier and more experienced pack with the front row of George Duncan, Will Cayton and Ray Drake playing well. The half backs Jacob Wragg and Harry Bentley were combining well and getting the lively backs moving nicely giving the West Park defence plenty of work to do .From a super break 'Ensians man of the match Jake Bentley just failed to score and minutes later a chip kick from Will Cooper resulted in a Home scrum near the line..The forwards put in a magnificent effort resulting in an unconverted try by Harry Gillson.More was to come with forwards and backs combining together and another unconverted try was scored when Will Cooper cut through the Park defence to reduce the arrears to 12 points to 10 after 53 minutes.

Not to be outdone the Visitors put in a series of attacks countered by fine defence but after 68 minutes West Park scored an unconverted try. 7 minutes later they followed this up with a fine converted try from a lineout with the stand off half looping round to make the overlap and the winger sprinting over .This extended the lead to 24 points to 10.

Yet again 'Ensians came back and after 76 minutes the ball sped across the backs with Charlie Bailey showing good form and when a West Park kick was charged down Connor Bateman scored an unconverted try.

With 4 minutes to go the chance of 2 bonus points beckoned and the Home team gained a penalty kick on their own 10 metre line .The Visitors did not retreat and 10 metres was gained .This was repeated and 'Ensians were in the Visitor's 22 .The whole team worked like tigers with forwards, Phil Rhodes and Jay Walsh together with veteran brothers Brett and Matt Tenniswood and newcomer Jack Hale all striving every muscle to get the elusive score with the home crowd giving excited encouragement. However despite this Herculean effort it was not to be and the visitors won by 24 points to 15 points.

This had been the best performance by 'Ensians this season and on this showing an elusive victory should not be far away.

John Churchman