OORUFC Match Report
7th December 2024
Thornensians 10 vs 34 OORUFC
Ensians go one point ahead at the top of the League
There has rarely been a match stranger than this. On a day with a northerly storm force wind blowing straight down the pitch making the uprights on the posts sway alarmingly and a chill factor of about zero degrees. It certainly wasn't a day suitable for Old Otliensians fast open style of play. The pitch was in good condition but soft after recent rain, which was more suited to the Old Thornensians heavy forward dominated style of play.
The Visitors took first advantage of the gale and immediately moved into the home 22 and after only 3 minutes skipper Luke Exley drove over for an unconverted try.
Play was mainly in the Home half. but the wind and cold hands affected ‘Ensians handling, and with Thorne keeping the ball tight they controlled the game. However, when play did move into the Visitor’s half a 60 metre run by Will Howarth took play back into the Home 22, only to be relieved by a penalty kick.
After 22 minutes the ball was moved along the visitor’s line for Will Cooper to score followed by a brilliant conversion wide out by Jake Bentley.
‘Ensians were not playing to their strengths, and seemed strangely out of sorts, and when the Home team advanced into their 22 their nippy scrum half skipped round the blind side to score an unconverted try.
This encouraged Thornensians who were on top in the scrums and from a forwards scramble scored an unconverted try on the cusp of half time to reduce the score to 10-12 in favour of ‘Ensians.
Was this enough for ‘Ensians to win with the gale in their faces for the second half? Their hardy supporters thought not—but how wrong can you get!!
The Visitors must have been well coached at half time as they began the second half with renewed vigour. After bit of “comic opera" with the ball blowing all over the place, a massive effort by all the ‘Ensians team in defence held the line for the first 20 minutes, despite all that the Home team could throw at them. Then Ali Cooper won a lineout “against the head” in the Visitor’s 22 and the forwards led by Noel Gillson and Jay Walsh forced the home team back into their own 22.
After 25 minutes a scrum was well held and the ball was opened out for Harry Wales to score an unconverted try. ‘Ensians really had their tails up now, and from a loose maul Harry Bentley made the initial break and when tackled the ball was opened out quickly to Jake Bentley who broke through four tackles to score a great try converted by himself.
At 24-10 the supporters were breathing more easily, but the team upped their game still more against a tiring Thornensians, who’s spirit appeared broken.
They controlled the ball in the Home half and when the Home team tried a long kick using the wind the ball ran dead for a scrum back on their 22. The whole team were rampant and they scored two more unconverted tries by Michael Groves and Isaac Gillson making a final score of 34-10 .
This was a fine performance by Old Otliensians against tough opposition, in tough conditions, and secures their place at the top of the league.
Report - John Harrison