OORUFC Match Report
9th November 2024
Thirsk 10 vs 40 OORUFC
Old Otliensians dominate away at Thirsk
Despite having a tough season to date, and sitting at the bottom of the league table, Thirsk displayed moments of prowess throughout the match, but consistency let them down.
Finishing high in Yorkshire three for the last two seasons, this recent fall from grace seems to be too hard to swallow for some of their players, and in fighting let them down on numerous occasions.
Ensians opened the scoring with a score for leggy winger Connor Bateman. Following a line out Syd Wood passed wide through the backs. Number Eight Luke Cowdell drove in tying up some of the oppositions defence. The ball quickly recycled out to Bateman on the twenty two. Bateman stepped back inside into space, and opened up his gait splitting Thirsk in two. Centre Jake Bentley added the extra two. For the next ten minutes the game ebbed and flowed with little advantage, until The home side, were awarded a penalty. A kick for touch gave a line out 10 m from Ensians line. Quick ball to their stand off made way for a well worked move. Their blind side winger cutting through the centres at pace, to score and equal the game at 7:7 with 18 minutes played.
This score certainly galvanised Thirsk, albeit temporarily, but as the tempo of the game raised, cracks soon started to open up in their composure. Four penalties later Otliensians found themselves with a line out ten metres from Thirsk’s try line. On their fourth attempt, flanker Noel Gillson twisted his way over to score. Again Bentley converted giving Ensians a seven point lead.
Moments from the restart the penalties continued, and the tourists ended up with an almost identical attacking line out. This time the ball was flung wide right, before fly half Ollie Eaves switched play back left with a long pass to Bentley. Bentley passed wide again out to Will Howarth who dashed into the corner to score. Bentleys conversion struck the right post, but thankfully dropped back inside. 7:21
Thirsk pressed back, but a long kick from Eaves, took play deep into the home sides half. Their isolated winger was marked well by Isaac Gillson and Will Haworth forcing a penalty to the blues. Ensians kept up the pressure until they were rewarded with another score. Second Row forward John Neall found himself in the right position supporting Ollie Eaves on the break. Neall took great delight in scoring his first try for the club, the conversion followed from Bentley, extending the lead to 7:28.
Minutes before the end of the half, Otliensians recycled the ball superbly, in a multiple phase attack, culminating in Noel Gillson scoring his second of the day. This time luck wasn’t on Bentley’s side, and the ball drifted wide.
Into injury time it was the home side who found favour with the referee, benefitting from two back to back penalties. The latter nobody quite knew what for, as the official didn't gesticulate his reasoning, but it was the perfect position for the home side’s stand off to kick for an extra three points, to close the half at 10:33
From the restart Otliensians kept play in Thirsk’s half, giving them little space to move. Again the blues recycled well and kept the attack alive. A looping wide pass gave winger Will Haworth another opportunity and he skidded into the corner to score his second. Bentley converted to close the tally at 10:40
For the next twenty minutes Thirsk battled hard to score again, but Otliensians stood firm and frustrated their ambitions every time, dealing the North Yorkshire side their biggest defeat of the season to date.
Next weeks match away at Wheatley Hills is set to be a cracker. Just two places below Ensians in fifth, and with four consecutive wins ‘Hills’ will surely be resolute.
Report - Ben Ritson & Photos - John Eaves.