OORUFC Match Report
22nd March 2025
Barnsley 17 vs 28 OORUFC
Ensians seal Yorkshire 3 title
Old Otliensians travelled to Barnsley last weekend with one ambition; to achieve the Yorkshire 3 League Title after a brilliant season.
On a dry, warm afternoon with a light cross wind and a flat dry pitch the odds were certainly in their favour.
With two consecutive clearance kicks ‘out on the full’, the visitors seemed a little out of sorts in the early stages of the match. It wasn’t until the 8th minute that Ensians finally broke free of the pressure, with a fine kick from winger Connor Bateman. Try as they might, the errors continued, and the home team were quick and firm in defence; much stronger than the team faced earlier in the season and deserving a much higher place in the league.
A moment of brilliance by Ensians inside centre Jake Bentley opened the scoring after 15 minutes with a neat double sidestep, bamboozling the defence and giving him a try near the posts, which he duly converted.
Barnsley were showing speed across their backs and very soon a smart move outwitted ‘Ensians’s defence to match the scores with a converted try.
Play was evenly matched until 25 minutes had passed when swift accurate ball from a scrum followed by a loop move gave the visitors an overlap and young full back Sydney Dojahn-Wood sprinted over for a sublime try converted by Bentley.
Five minutes later Barnsley were awarded a penalty 42 metres out, and took the points with a superb kick giving a score of 10-14 in favour of the visitors.
The last 10 minutes of the half took place mainly in the home half but Barnsley showed that they were up for it and their defence held firm. Perhaps the threat of demotion focussing their attentions.
In the early minutes of the second half a clearance kick by the visitors was charged down and the Barnsley’s second row collected the ball and raced over for a converted try to give them the lead at 17-14. A minute or two later they would have gone further ahead. but for a super try-saving tackle by Dojahn-Wood.
Eventually the will to win started to shine through the increasing gloomy weather and ‘Ensians showed their mettle by attacking the home try line resulting in a crash over try by prop Luke Exley after 55 minutes, converted again by Bentley to retake the lead. Five minutes later, following hard work by the forwards ,with Jay Walsh prominent, stand off Olly Eaves moved very sharply to his right seemingly into a crowd of defenders (much to the consternation of some of the visiting supporters) BUT he had seen an opening and went over the line without a hand touching him to earn the bonus point and ensure ‘Ensians are Champions. Again the conversion successful from Bentley, gave what was to be the final score of 17 –28 .
With 20 minutes to go the heavens opened with rain of biblical proportions. Play was mainly between the 22’s with play pretty even for the most part.
What was most satisfying in this game and in the previous one against Wheatley Hills was the manner in which the team came back to win after going behind in the second half against two tough teams. Credit must be given to Coach Andy Hinchcliffe and his team including Matt Haley and Peter Tempest for instilling the spirit of self belief in the whole team which will hold them in good stead in the harder games to be enjoyed next season.
Many congratulations are due to all.
WELL DONE-GREAT EFFORT.
Report:Ben Ritson Photos:John Eaves