OORUFC Match Report
6th April 2024
OORUFC 36 vs 15 Hornsea
Ensians win promotion to Yorkshire 3
Last Saturday Old Otliensians welcomed Hornsea RUFC to Chaffers field for the all important playoff for the first promotion spot to Yorkshire 3.
The prematch nerves were almost palpable, despite being undefeated this season to date and certainly sure favourites, but with just as much to play for Hornsea were not going to be a walk over.
With the wind at their backs, Hornsea set off strong, and won the ball from their own kick off. Their excellent inside center driving play forward. Luckily centre Luke Cowdell was on hand jackling well and forced a penalty for not releasing. Kean to make an impression, Captain Jay Walsh, took a quick tap, and hit the defensive line like a train. The ball recycled back out to Cowdell who broke down the left wing, before passing out to ‘speed merchant’ Will Howarth. The winger skirted past his diving opponent, to score in the corner. Sadly the ref deemed his foot must have grazed the touch line, even if the touch judge did not. This was the first of several occasions were the referee’s decisions were based on a combination of ‘guesstimation’ and frustration, rather than fact.
This gave Hornsea possession and stopped the attack for now. With a scrum on the halfway line, front row Luke Exley, Alex Gillson and Mikey Groves controlled the pack, and facilitated clean ball out to the backs. This time, full back Will Cooper making a break into their twenty two, drawing three men, before delivering a deft grubber kick forward. Hoping for a favourable bounce for Will Howarth on the outside to gather. With a tricky bounce Howarth did well, and scored the first of his 3 tries. Sadly Jake Bentley’s first attempt at goal was frustrated by the remnants of storm Kathleen’s easterly winds.
From the restart we saw the first of several galloping runs from number 8, Will Rigg. The ball spun out to Jake Bentley who jinked his way deep into Hornsea’s half before passing out to Howarth again to make his way down the left wing. Howarth’s dreams of a second try were quickly dashed, when Hornsea’s scrum half made the tackle of the day, taking man and ball into touch just 2m from the try line. From the line-out, flanker and ‘man of the match’, Noel Gillson battled hard to regain possession in the breakdown, and successfully got the ball out to Haworth, who had an easier task this time; diving into the corner from a metre out. Again the wind hindering Bentley from adding the ‘extras’. With 10 points on the board, and only 10 minutes played, the supporters nerves began to dissipate a little.
The next series of play was in favour of Hornsea, who found themselves with a penalty on Ensians ’22. Instead of opting for the points, they kicked for the corner to keep the momentum. The home side tackled valiantly and eventually forced an error to regain possession.
Moments later Hornsea were awarded a penalty in almost the same position, this time opting for a kick at goal. With the wind in their favour the 3 points were inevitable.
With only 13 minutes played this was set to be a real contest.
Luckily for the home side, many of Hornsea’s passes down the back line were either too adventurous, or badly timed, and ended up being lost.
On the twenty minute mark, Hornsea had a free kick on their twenty two, quickly taken, they set off downfield. Scrum half Rob Lofthouse, covering well, stopped their full back mid flight. With the ‘big guns’ on hand, Nr 8 Will Rigg managed to strip the ball and shift the momentum. Five phases later, ‘Ensians were just 10m out. This time, stand off, Ollie Eaves spotted a gap, and went for it. With players all around him, there was no way through, and Eaves was cut down 5 m from the line. Sadly a twisted knee forced Eaves to leave the field for the day, and ceased Otliensians attack
With the help of three penalties and the strong wind, Hornsea found themselves deep in the home sides half. From the breakdown, their inside centre ran well eluding several tackles. Unfortunately he held on for too long, and by the time he passed out to his wing man, Will Cooper was up, and perfectly positioned to intercept the pass. Cooper was quickly felled but managed to offload to Luke Cowdell in support. Cowdell managed only 15m before being ankle tapped by Hornsea’s winger in hot pursuit. Mid tumble, he skillfully passed the ball out to Howarth, who raced for the line, to claim his third. This time Jake Bentley read the wind well, and claimed this first conversion of the day, taking the lead to 17:3.
From a long restart Otliensians set off on a multiphase foray upfield. Firstly with Noel Gillson cutting through serval men towards the halfway line; out to Bentley, Cooper and out to Cowdell with Haworth in support. Everybody thought the ball would be passed left for Haworth to finish, but to the elation of flanker Ally Campbell and the vexation of Hornsea the ball was passed back in field for Campbell to score under the posts. This gave Bentley an easy conversion, to increase the lead to 24:3
Not letting apathy spread, Hornsea restarted strong, and pinned the home team inside their ’22 for the next 10 minutes. Three penalties and a yellow card later in their favour, Hornsea piled on the pressure and eventually scored in the far right corner from a rolling maul. The conversion too testing closed the gap to 24:8 at half time.
Frustratingly the advantageous wind had now moved north as Otliensians restarted the second half. Still with a man down, the home team rallied hard, and pinned the visitors to their try line. Eventually young player Alex Gillson dived through the melee to score in the corner. With a super conversion from Bentley the score line looked a little more relaxing at 31:8
However Hornsea’s determination shone through and they made serval attacks over the next ten minuets as the direction of play ebbed and flowed. Otliensians had to dig deep to push back the constant attack from Hornsea who kept the ball alive well. Eventually with a scrum 10m out Hornsea’s nimble scrum half broke on the blind side, drew the solo defender, and passed wide for his right wing to catch and dive into the corner. The extra 2 points were added with a fabulous kick from the touch line, from Hornsea's full back.
With twenty minutes still on the clock, and the score at 31:15, ‘Ensians knew they had to keep their ‘foot on the gas’, but also manage the remaining time sensibly. Take the line out; take the scrum; take the kicks at goal; let the clock tick down.
They did this well and neither team broke the deadlock for the next 18 minutes. In the dying minutes of the match ‘Ensians were awarded a scrum from a Hornsea knock on. With nothing to loose and perhaps enough time for another score, Will Rigg picked up from the back of the scrum and broke down the blind side. Out to replacement scrum half Jack DeAth, with full back Cooper in support. Cooper drew the defender before passing out wide to winger Will Haworth.
Haworth tore down the left wing, to the shrieks of the crowd, baying for another score. Almost there, he was cut down by Hornsea’s full back. Luckily Rigg had continued in support, and caught the pop pass from Haworth as he dropped. Rigg had an easy task and cruised over to score and close the game at 36:15.
A fantastic well fought final match. Hornsea certainly played their ‘socks off’, but with their first undefeated season, no one could deny Otliensians deserved the promotion spot.
Ben Ritson
Chaffers Field
Arthur Bard'le reflects on a "Great afternoon".
Between the Chevin and the Wharfe, nestled on the valley floor,
Lies Chaffers Field.
Not long ago we struggled hard, heavy losses, please, no more,
For Chaffers Field.
Could barely raise a decent side, how we knew what lay in store,
On Chaffers Field.
Then Saturday on April 6 th , atmosphere electric tore
Round Chaffers Field.
With Hornsea beaten fair and square, ecstasy, and then the roar
Enveloped Chaffers field.
Promotion “done”, it’s Yorkshire Three, ground erupted, stuff of lore
Hail Chaffers Field.
A sunny day, who cares ‘bout gales, winning smiles and cheer we wore,
All over Chaffers Field.
The car park bursting, more than full, sights I’ve rarely seen before,
Down Chaffers Field.
Tremendous crowds streamed from the ground, this indeed no rugby chore,
Love Chaffers Field.
Arthur Bartle
Hornsea's Match Report
‘Ensians will know they’ve been in a game
On a bright, blustery, almost balmy afternoon in West Yorkshire, Hornsea travelled to Old Otliensians for an end of season promotion play off clash in Counties 4 Yorkshire.
Seven months of a gruelling season, saw the Hollismen with a daunting task, up against the side who had won all of their previous 17 league matches, averaging a 52:7 win in each match in the process. Virtually everyone had written off Hornsea’s chances, and although the game ended in defeat for them, by 36 points to 15, they gave a tremendous effort, and did themselves, the club and their town proud.
Despite the recent rain The Chaffers Field pitch was in excellent condition and Hornsea started the match with the kick off.
After two or three minutes of controlled play by both sides, Otliensians made a touchline break showing good hands, and when the ball was kicked through it was collected well out wide for the left wing in score in the corner.
Just three minutes later ‘Ensians were again on the scoresheet. Again a break out wide looked a certain try before Adie Wadforth sprinted cross field to make a textbook cover tackle bundling the man into touch. However, from the resultant line out, Otliensians found a gap and powered over at the corner, 10:0.
Seven minutes gone and 10:0 down, the signs looked pretty ominous, but Hornsea dusted themselves down, and from some useful yards made downfield by Reg Fisher and Phil Walker they were awarded a penalty. Captain Ed Webster elected for a kick at goal to get some points on the board, and in difficult conditions full back Tim Roberts skillfully drilled the ball over from 30 yards, 10:3.
Hornsea followed this score up with a darting break by Liam Tudor Bateman, after Andy Salvidge and Jonty Ashton had carried hard, with a possible try scoring pass just not going to hand. Hornsea then showed some dynamism themselves and good interplay by Webster, Weekes and Thomas saw the ball moved well to Joe Barrett but when the ball sprung out of a tackle, ‘Ensians picked up the ball and another 60 yard pacy break ended with a try under the posts which was duly converted, 17:3.
On the half hour mark, Otliensians further increased their lead and some very slick handling and fine support play saw them again cut through the Hornsea defence to score another converted try, 24:3.
Hornsea heads could easily have dropped at this point, with five minutes to go until half time, however, the final 45 minutes of the match ended 12:12, which was down to a huge effort by the Hornsea side.
Hornsea’s powerhouse prop forward Rob Weekes crashed through and over the try line on the stroke of half time after great work by David Ashbridge, Joe Temple and the rest of the pack to bring a fast paced half to a close, 24:8.
Playing into a strong wind in the second half, Hornsea had the worst possible start as ‘Ensians again hit wide and scored in the corner, the try being converted well to make it 31:8.
Hornsea looked to play a more forward based gameplan against the wind now, and after ten minutes of controlled possession and territorial advantage they were rewarded when Matt Smallwood finished strongly in the corner to score a well deserved try for the Hollismen, which was superbly converted by Roberts against the wind from the touchline, 31:15.
With fifteen minutes remaining, Otliensians had a strong spell and they were awarded two penalties in quick succession, they opted to kick at goal on both occasions with both being missed to keep the score at 31:15.
Adie Wadforth and Mark Thomas continued to use the ball well for Hornsea, and with the clock ticking down a Brandon Leggett break was stopped 10 yards short of the line.
It was Otliensians who had the last say in the match, as in the final play of the game they worked the ball well and scored to make the full time score 36:15 in their favour in quite a pulsating match in front of a large well entertained crowd.
Speaking after the game Hornsea captain Ed Webster said, “I’m very proud of the lads today, we were up against a top side in their own back yard, and we gave a really good account of ourselves, ‘Ensians will know they’ve been in a game, and they are the deserved league champions”.
So the league season ends for Hornsea with a very creditable 3rd place finish and they have shown there is no reason why they can’t challenge again for promotion next time out.
The season carries on with the start of the National Cup next week, where Hornsea entertain local rivals Hessle.
Tries
Rob Weekes
Matty Smallwood
Conversion
Tim Roberts
Penalty
Tim Roberts
Man of the match
Liam Tudor Bateman
"Borrowed" from Hornsea RUFC Facebook page.