OORUFC Match Report
3rd May 2025
Tupton 22 vs 45 OORUFC
Ensians inch closer to Twickenham
Tupton control possession in the second half
Last Saturday Otliensians travelled to Tupton in Chesterfield in the quarter final of the Papa Johns cup, to face a side who have dominated the counties 3 Midlands East league.
Having won 19 of their 20 league matches, often putting 100 points on the board, the home team were buoyant as they strode onto the pitch, to the sounds of AC/DCs ‘THUNDER’ booming from a pitch side speaker. The conditions were perfect with a mild crosswind and the sun in full bloom.
Sadly the pitch; a little like my hairline these days - was a little dry with bald patches.
From the kick off Ensians structure was clearly superior, and despite the home side opening the scoring with 3 points from a penalty on the 22, the tourist soon found their stride and started to assert their dominance. Pinning Tupton in their own half until they broke through to score on the twelfth minute. Jake Bentley converting his own try securing the lead.
Tupton tackled and counter attacked persistently, but the pressure from Ensians was too much, and soon lead to another score. This time from captain Luke Exley. With a penalty on the 5m line several Ensians players attempted to break through but Tupton held firm, until Exley steamed in and with an outstretched arm reached the line.
Still in fine form Bentley added the conversion taking the score to 14:3.
From the restart the safe hands of Will Cooper secured the ball. He then sent a long kick back into Tupton’s half for winger Will Howarth to chase. The score not to be, but play was again at the right side of the field.
A poor clearance from Tupton gifted a line out to Ensians on the 22. Sadly the advantageous attacking position was short lived as the ball was lost in the line out; one area of the game where Ensians didn’t excel. The home side sent a long kick back into Ensians half. Bentley gathered and set off on his own before being surrounded on the halfway line. Eventually the ball found young winger Isaac Gillson, this week filling in at outside centre. Isaac carved his way down the right side the full 50m to score a super try. Several diving tacklers attempting to dislodge his balance. The conversion a little too testing, set the score at 19:3
Cracks now started to appear in the home sides composure; being on the wrong side of the score board was a novel concept for them. Dissension rumbling as they huddled under the posts for a third time.
In the absence of usual loose-head prop Mikey Groves, club veteran Rob Arbuckle stepped up to assist. Alongside captain Luke Exley and hooker Alex Gillson he added the strength and size to form a stable pack.
Otliensians continued to pressure Tupton. Luke Cowdell excelling at number 8 proving difficult to tackle for the home team, but Tupton were certainly alert and capitalised on the few handling errors Ensians made. With a messy line out on their own 22, young hooker Alex Gillson artfully flipped the ball over his head in the hope somebody was on hand to gather. His gamble paid off when scrum half Harry Bentley caught the ball and passed out to Jake Bentley and then onto ‘Coops’, and then out to leading try scorer Will Howarth. Howarth made it 50m before being caught. He quickly passed back inside to Isaac who popped the ball to ‘Coops’ to sprint the remaining 20m to the line. Stepping through two tacklers he placed the ball under the posts, giving Bentley an easy conversion. Now twenty three points amiss the home supporters weren’t so jubilant.
On the 35th minute the tourists suffered the first of two yellow cards. A deliberate knock on; rather harsh as Tupton were by no means in a try scoring position. Opting for a kick and a line out, Tupton’s advantage was soon lost when their big prop ran into his own man. From the resulting scrum the home sides fans were left dumbfounded murmuring ‘a number eight pick up from their 5m line..!?’. Otliensians fans and squad shouting go on ‘Cowy’. As Luke Cowdell picked up from the back of the scrum and set off on a charge up field. The ball quickly fed down the line ended up in the hands of Howarth. Still inside his own 22, he had a long way to go.
He stripped the first two defenders and set off straight towards the full back. At the last minute side stepping left he cruised into score his 58th try of the season.
Again Bentley added the two, giving the tourists a thirty point lead at half time.
From the restart Harry Gillson caught Will Coopers kick, taking play up to Tupton’s 22. The ball recycled quickly ended up with Exley 15m out. With a penalty advantage and three men on his back Exley trundled over to score. Sadly the referee deemed the grounding not clear enough and took play back for the penalty. This time Luke Cowdell taking a quick tap, charged through the defenders to score. The conversion wasn’t to be but at 38:3 the travelling supporters were starting to day dream about Twickenham.
The Gillson clan had an excellent day; Harry tackling everything that moved and young Alex putting in almost as many. Older brother Noel coming on late in the second half, still recovering from a foot injury but his return was a welcome sight.
The next 20 minutes belonged to the home side who managed to score two tries, forcing Ensians to refocus. The home side did well in the majority of the second half denying Ensians possession.
With a man down to another yellow, Otliensians had to hold firm. The lead still comfortable but Tupton were looking hungrier. With a scrum on their 5m line Ensians had to clear the ball to relieve the pressure. Desperate for another score, Tupton didn’t give Cooper enough space to clear, making it only a few yards before being tackled. Harry Bentley quickly passed the loose ball out to Isaac who passed to full back Connor Bateman, and as we’ve seen many times before, Bateman set off on one of his graceful runs. Covering several metres with each stride of his long legs. To the cries of the travelling supporters he covered the 80 meters in seconds, and touched down under the posts. Jake Bentley converted to close Ensians tally at 45 point.
The home side managed to score another converted try in the dying minutes to close their tally at a respectable 22 points.
Another great win, but lessons need to be learnt. We went off the boil in the second half and certainly need to focus on what went wrong in the line-outs.
Next Saturday we face Tewkesbury Old boys RFC in the semi final.
Report: Ben Ritson
Papa John Cup Counties 3 & Below Championship Quarter Final Results