OORUFC Match Report
3rd February 2024

Otliensians latest victory cements their unblemished record so far this season, and also marks a new points record, with 128 points scored in a single match

Last Saturday Otliensians travelled, the 50 plus miles north, to Richmond, for the furthest fixture of the season to date. The hosts have certainly had a challenging season so far, to say the least. Without a win to their name, they sit at the bottom of the table. Despite losing promising local players to nearby Yorkshire one side Wensleydale, Richmondshire’s coach does a remarkable job keeping their 20+ squad together each week. Not missing a single game so far this season. They used to play in the Durham Northumberland league, but since the RFU’s clumsy reshuffle with the lower divisions, they’ve ended up playing far flung teams across Yorkshire.

In the first half of the season, up to end of Dec, ‘Ensians sat firmly at the top of the table, with 11 wins and 54 points; 13 higher than second place Thornensians. As of 1st Jan, the thirteen team league split into two; Yorkshire Four North and South, with the first and second place teams from each side, entering a winner takes all play off in March.
This in my opinion is grossly unfair. In effect writing off the 2023 results. Fingers crossed we can avoid injuries, and continue our form for the four remaining league matches, and take one of the 2 coveted promotion slots.

Certainly the team that arrived at Richmondshire, deserves to be in Yorkshire three.

From the start the home side were overwhelmed by ‘Ensians non stop pressure. Captain Jay Walsh was on fine form, accompanied by new young colt Hugo Poole. Walsh gathered the ball from the kick off, and commenced on a 50m foray up the narrow pitch. Knowing he wasn’t going all the way, he passed out to left wing, Will Howarth, who as usual, zipped around his man, to score his first of four tries. Connor Bateman added the ‘extras’, to start the points ticking. Within moments of the restart Bateman gathered a deft chip over the top from Ollie Eaves, to score his first of two tries.

This was a pattern throughout the match. Whenever the visitors had possession, play was driven up field, and a score resulted. However, when ‘Shire had the ball, it often looked like the proverbial ‘hot potato’. With players not wanting to be the one in possession when the battalion of blue shirts arrived.

Further tries were scored, by Luke Garnett, Noel Gillson, Mikey Groves, Harry Wales, Jack De-ath, Josh Howarth, Spencer Wood, Luke Exley, Harry Gillson, and Dan Perfect.

The next real test will be on the 17th February when we travel to Aireborough.