Yorkshire 4, week 11
No match photos this week

Old Otliensians made the long journey to play Hornsea, whom they had not played for about 8 years, expecting a hard game against a team with a very good home record. The pitch was in fine condition and, although chilly, there was little wind.

Ensians made their presence felt attacking the home line straight from the kick off and spending most of the first 30 minutes in the home half. Prop Lewis Baker was prominent in the loose and Sam Featherstone outstanding in the lineouts. However the territorial advantage could not be turned into points due mainly to fine home defence.

Then, on 30 minutes, Ensians stole a line out in the Hornsea 22 and Ryan McIlorum burst through a couple of tackles before being stopped just short of the line. The ball was quickly recycled for Will Howarth to score an unconverted try wide out.

This incentivised the visitors and three minutes later Eithan Heede made good yards, forming a ruck near the line from which Lewis Baker drove over to score an unconverted try.

Not to be outdone the Home team came back strongly approaching half time but the Ensians defence held and turned round ahead by ten points to nil.

Immediately following the kick off for the second half, the blues won a scrum and stand off Ollie Eaves gave an outrageous long high pass over the centres to speedy winger Will Howarth, who outpaced the defence to race 40 metres to score a superb try converted by Harry Bentley.

Hornsea then instigated a series of attacks in the visitors' half troubling the Ensians defence. Finally using their backs the ball went left and back again to the right for their winger to score a well-worked unconverted try to make the score 17 points to 5 in favour of the visitors.

The visitors' defence continued to hold firm and after 20 minutes their attack took over.Newcomer Lewis Platt beat three men to be pulled down just short. Two minutes later Ensians stole a lineout, a further lineout followed and the blues drove over for Jay Walsh to score the bonus point unconverted try.

Play went from end to end, but with Ensians in franic defence five metres from their own line, they stole a lineout, opened out the ball across the backs to Will Howarth who sprinted 60 metres down the wing. The ball was then recycled across the park to Lewis Pratt who made valuable yards before passing to Ollie Eaves who chipped through the defence for Will Cooper to follow up to score the try of the match, converted by Harry Bentley giving Otliensians an impressive win by 29 points to 5points.

This completes a most satisfying first half to the season in third place in Yorkshire League Four and bodes well for the return fixtures. Despite this there are some stern matches ahead, including trips to Halifax, Mosborough and Stocksbridge; and visits from Rotherham and Aireborough.

John Churchman