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OLD OTLIENSIANS A 46 – BAILDON 3rds 7
Photos from the 2ndXV game here!
With the ‘Ensians 1st XV having no game in this non-league week, the 2nd
XV took on neighbours Baildon to produce a solid performance which wasn’t
as one-sided as the score might suggest.
The hosts attacked from the start with half-back brothers Brett and Matt
Tenniswood sending their backs on the attack from the off. After good
interplay between forwards and backs skipper Alan Garnett drove over half
way out. The conversion failed, but the home side continued to pressure
the Baildon defence and Brett Tenniswood forced his way through in the
corner to give his side a 10 – 0 lead on 14 minutes.
With one or two 2nd XV players strengthening their ranks, Baildon showed
that they had pace out wide, but flankers Michael Moore and Richard
Crossley covered well to snuff out any threats. The ‘Ensians pack was
proving a handful for the visitors with the front row of Tom Twist, Ben
Tetley and Peter Bonner dominating the scrums and providing quality ball
for the backs. Centres John Burns and Toby Gillatt made powerful runs up
the middle and when the ball was re-cycled, Gillatt cut through for the
third try. Matt Tenniswood’s conversion lifted the score to 17 – 0 on 20
minutes.
Baildon then came back strongly with their lively full back coming into
the line to pressure the home side, but stout defence with flanker Richard
Crossley always to the fore kept the line clear. The hosts responded with
a good break by Toby Gillatt and the ball passed through several pairs of
hands before full back Sean Flesher completed the move with a try
wide-out, lifting the score to 22 – 0 at the break.
In the second half the visitors came out with renewed vigour and the home
side found themselves on the back foot for the first 10 minutes. Good
chasing and backing up by Baildon produced a well-worked try on 51 minutes
to get them on the scoreboard, taking the score to. 22 – 7.
Their come-back was short-lived when strong runs from centre John Burns
and flanker Richard Crossley put lock Andy Wood away on a bullocking run
down the right wing to brush off two would-be tackles and go over in the
corner to extend the lead to 27 – 7 on 53 minutes. ‘Ensians were now
playing confidently with good backing up and slick passing.
Although Baildon produce the odd flurry, ‘Ensians were well on top for the
remainder of the match. Wingers Dan Ball and Ben Dixon were always a
threat and Ball went over for the sixth home try on 65 minutes. Further
tries came from the lively Toby Barltrop and from Alan Garnett, who scored
his second from a pushover try in the final minute. Three conversions by
Matt Tenniswood gave the home side a comfortable 46 – 7 victory in a match
where credit must go to Baildon for competing right to the end.
‘Enians are back to League action next week at home to Wetherby with a
2,15 kick-off.
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