Declan Jackson eludes his man
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Old Otliensians made the long journey to Hornsea, a very welcoming club, on a very pleasant calm and mild day ideal for rugby.
Ensians made a bright start, spending most of the time in the home 22 when after 11 minutes, the ball was opened out to winger Declan Jackson who dived over wide out for the opening unconverted try.
Ensians used every opportunity to use their speedy backs, whereas Hornsea preferred to use their big forwards to keep the ball tight.
Twenty minutes into the game another fine move by the backs resulted in a try by Connor Bateman converted by Jake Bentley increasing the Visitors lead to 12 points to nil.
Not to be outdone the Home forwards tested the Ensians defence before crashing over for an unconverted try to reduce the arrears.
However on 37 minutes Connor Bateman collected the ball from a missed touch kick, the ball was then passed across the backs for winger Declan Jackson to beat two men in scoring a lovely unconverted try.
The last few minutes of the half saw some sublime rugby from the Visitor's back line in which each winger scored a superb try, the first by Will Howarth ,giving the bonus point,and the second giving Declan Jackson his hat trick. It was scintillating play and all credit to the forwards for giving good ball..Both were converted by Jake Bentley giving a half time score of 31 points to 5.
Talk about a game of two halves. This was the one.The Hornsea coach must have given sound advice to his team who decided to concentrate even more on holding the ball tight and keeping possession from the Ensians backs.In this they were most successful .Hornsea bossed the scrums and whilst Sam Featherstone ensured good ball from the lineouts the Visitors' backs had little opportunity to shine as they had done in the first half. Much of the time was spent in the away half and despite valiant defence from the Visitors Hornsea scored three tries (all converted) from their forwards hard work to give them the bonus point.
However after 27 minutes in a rare foray into the home 22 Forward Graig Nicholson jinked through the Home pack and with a neat sidestep scored an unconverted try.
This made a final score of 34-26 to Ensians in a very hard fought but most entertaining game. Hornsea have always been a most hard team to beat at home and Ensians will have been pleased to come home with a bonus point win.
Yorkshire 4 League
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