OORUFC Match Report
7th September 2024
Rotherham Phoenix 14 vs 27 OORUFC
Otliensians start the season as they mean to go on, with a fantastic victory over Rotherham Phoenix
Having finished last season as undefeated champions of Yorkshire 4, the squad were in good spirits, but knew the step up to Yorkshire three would be a challenge.
In the first minutes of the match, inside centre Jake Bentley opened the scoring for the visitors, with a jinking foray up the centre of the field. Adding the ‘extras’ Bentley silenced the home supporters.
Having finished a respectable 5th place last season, Phoenix were not expecting the first fixture to be such a challenge. As with many South Yorkshire teams they played like a ’15 man pack’, and soon responded with a rolling maul from just inside Otliensians half, culminating in a converted try to level the score at seven all.
Still with only 8 minutes played, ‘Ensians came back strong and took play deep inside the Rotherham’s half. Eventually Phoenix lost control, and gave away a the first of many penalties, giving Bentley the opportunity to regain the lead, which he dutifully did.
On the twenty minute mark, we saw a super break from flanker Noel Gillson, who gave a stellar performance alongside his two brothers Alex, Isaac and cousin Harry. Gillson made it to the twenty two metre line, before passing out to the supporting backs. The away fans held their breath in anticipation, when speed merchant Will Haworth received the ball. More often than not, there’d be a flash of boots and a try in the corner, but sadly Howarth's reputation preceded him, and he was often the most marked man on the pitch. Rotherham managed to hold back the attack, but the resulting maul gave Ensians’ nr 8, Jay Walsh just enough space to build up a head of steam, to blast his way over the line to score. Bentley methodically added the extra two points, giving the tourists a ten point advantage.
Otliensians almost finished the half as they’d started with a super kick from new fly-half Sam Longfellow. His searching corner kick put Rotherham's fullback under pressure, and forced a knock on. With a scrum 6m out, this was a great opportunity to increase the lead. Walsh picked up from the back of the scrum, and drove forward, before passing out to Longfellow who passed wide to centre Will Cooper. Sadly the pass a little wide of the mark was gathered by Rotherham’s winger to clear. The unsuccessful clearance was gathered by replacement full back, Connor Bateman, who ran back in field to keep play alive. By the ‘skin of their teeth’ Phoenix managed to shut down the attack, and clear the ball in desperation.
With a ten point deficit Rotherham opened the second half with determination; pinning the visitors in their own 22 for several minutes. Young hooker Alex Gillson and prop Luke Exley literally putting their bodies ‘on the line’ to push back the barrage of purple shirts. Backs Bateman and Josh Haworth adding defensive support with some excellent tackling. Bentley’s attempted clearance was charged down by Rotherham’s ‘lanky’ second row, adding to the tempo, but much to the frustration of the home team, Otliensians held firm and managed to diminish Rotherham’s ambitions. Bateman kicking long to give ‘fresh legged’ replacement winger, Issac Gillson a chance to show some pace. The resulting scramble for the ball, saw older brother Noel gather the ball and continue towards the posts, before passing out wide to Jake Bentley in support. Sadly Bentley was taken down in an overzealous, if not dangerous tackle, that stopped the attack, and yet again turned the tide of play. Despite a ‘dead leg’, Bentley gallantly played on, and minutes later was pivotal in taking down Rotherham’s 2nd row as he charged downfield. Rotherham found themselves with a scrum on Otliensians 5m line, and despite some fantastic tackling from the forwards, Phoenix managed to score and reduce ‘Ensian’s lead to only 3 points.
With only 10 minutes left, Ensians had to keep play inside Rotherham’s half, and make sure everything was above board. From the restart young Hooker Alex Gillson found himself in possession and with just enough space to gather up some speed, headed for the line. Unfortunately Gillson was tackled badly by Rotherham’s fullback. As he lied dazed on the ground, the referee thankfully stopped the continuing passage of play, and with hindsight deemed the ‘head on head’ contact worthy of a penalty, and a surprisingly ‘generous’ yellow card for the fullback. With Bentley still on the ‘mend’ Longfellow took over kicking duties, and struck a beauty, sending it through the uprights. In the dying seconds of the match Longfellow had the opportunity to clear the ball and secure the win, but ‘youthfully’ decided to keep the ball in play, and have one more attack. Spotting Will Haworth in space the ball was spun over to the left wing for Haworth to open up the gas and shoot down the wing to score. With Longfellow adding the extras the game closed at 14:27 to the to the tourists.