OORUFC Match Report
10th May 2025
Tewkesbury 22 vs 33 OORUFC
Ensians are going to Twickenham
A tough encounter with a top team
Last Saturday Otliensians defeated Tewkesbury in a thrilling semi-final in the Papa Johns Community Cup.
The conditions were perfect and the atmosphere convivial. With the smell of BBQ and cider in the air the Tewkesbury Squad strode onto the pitch brimming with confidence. Having only lost one game this season their adoring fans were expecting an entertaining afternoon and a good result. Sadly for them they were denied the latter.
Nerves were apparent early on with a few handling errors from the blues; frustratingly giving the upper hand to the home team and eventually Tewkesbury’s speedy full back scored. Thankfully the conversion glanced the post denying them the extra 2 points.
Within minutes Ensians settled into their stride and focused on the task in hand. With a scrum on their own 22, Harry Bentley spun the ball out wide. Jake Bentley (this week at inside centre) broke free and took play up to the half way line. After a further 5 phases of play, Luke Cowdell, excelling at nr 8, spotted a gap and set off on a 40m dash to the line. Touching down just left of the posts, he gave Jake Bentley an easy conversion, and secured the lead at 7:5.
Another try soon followed; Tewks’ on the whole dominated the line outs, but on the 20th minute, their hooker ‘over shot the runway’ with his throw in. The ball bouncing perfectly for Ollie Eaves at fly-half to gather, gave him a split second advantage to start the attack. Ensians forwards pinned the home side to their line, depleting their energy levels, forcing tackle after tackle. Eventually Jake Bentley slipped through their net and scored under the posts, increasing the lead to 14:3. The remainder of the half was a physical ‘tug of war’, with each side desperate to take the advantage. With both teams tackling superbly; it was crystal clear how much the win would mean. Unfortunately Ensians conceded too many penalties over the next 10 minutes, and eventually the referee issued a yellow card, and any precious gains were soon lost. With the one man advantage Tewks’ managed to increase their tally by just three points before half time, taking the score to 14:8
With the sun beating down and the temperature now in the mid twenties, both sides were showing signs of fatigue at the start of the second half.
Still with a man down, Otliensians determination shone through and they soon came back with another score for enterprising Jake Bentley. With a clean line out won by Noel Gillson, the ball was spun wide to start the attack. Overzealous tackling from the home side lead to a penalty on their 22. With a quick tap Cowdell set off, but Tewks’ defended valiantly and pushed back the attack. Eventually Bentley found himself in the right place to sneak into the corner. Being the widest pitch we’ve seen this season the conversion was an unexpected delight, taking the score to 21:8 and Jakes personal tally to 16 points.
It wasn't until the 60th minute of play that the home supporters witnessed the ‘pocket rocket’ we all know as Will Howarth. Being the leading try scorer in the country they no doubt knew he was lurking somewhere, but until now he’d seen very little ball. With a Tewkesbury scrum inside Ensians half, the ball was cleanly won and distributed out, but their rehearsed move didn’t quite go to plan and the ball was spilt forward, Luckily eagle-eyed Connor Bateman quickly gathered the loose ball, he then passed over head to Coops on the left and then on to Howarth. With two men to beat he shot down the left wing from inside his own half to score.
With Bentley on such good form the conversion was expected but Tewks’ quick footed winger charged down the kick, leaping high into the air. Now with an 18 point lead the loyal travelling supporters nerves were starting to settle.
From the restart Tewks made a bone crunching attack forcing Ensians back, but excellent tackling denied them a score. Play ebbed and flowed for the next 10 minutes, but it was clear the home side were turning up the pressure. On the 70th minute of play, Tewks attacked down the left, their winger almost in at the corner before losing the ball in the tackle. Winger Isaac Gillson didn’t wait for the referee to blow for the knock on, he played the advantage, surprising everybody when he ran across the pitch towards the opposite wing. He carved through the defenders like a hot knife through butter as he straightened his line. Making it into the home sides 22 before selflessly passing out to Howarth in support. Unopposed, Howarth covered the last few metres into the corner and then curved right to touch down under the posts. Bentley added the extras taking the score to 33:8.
At this point the home side looked demoralised with their heads down, but surprisingly they dug deep and played some of their best rugby in the last ten minutes. Sadly for the home supporters their game management wasn’t the best and they wasted time with line-outs and scrums when a quickly taken penalty might have been the better option. The two tries they managed to score in the dying minutes of the match didn't change the outcome of the game but certainly lifted the spirits of their affable supporters.
Next week we travel down to Twickenham for the final against Surrey side Old Georgians. Kick off 11am
Papa John Cup Counties 3 & Below Championship Semi Final Results
Come on 'Ensians!!!
“COME ON ‘ENSIANS”!!!
‘Twas Tewkesbury-bound on Saturday morn,
We’re facing a fairly long drive,
Ben’s planned it well, in BM 5 we are borne,
Sun shines on the righteous, so good, we’re alive!
Three hours in style, we lunch at “The Jockey”,
G and T in the garden, waqrm sun.
Nervous though, anxious too, no time to be cocky.
The unknown awaits, will they give us a run?
Tewkesbury’s set up, a festival feel,
Their fans are so friendly, occasion the thing.
The pitch wide and green, the turn of the wheel,
We’ll find out how good; can the ‘Ensians “sing”?
Each side quickly saw that they faced a tough game,
The hosts threw it all, kept us pinned on our line.
But crucially, timely, the visitors came
Away with some points, though cutting it fine.
This is not a report, but an old man’s day out,
Surrounded (by chance), female ‘Ensian fans,
Who cheered ‘till their lungs almost ran out of “shout”
They waved and they yelled, spur them on were their plans.
I admire “my” team and their never-say-die,
Grind it out, tackle hard, believe that we shall
Prevail in the end, we can laugh and not cry.
Final whistle, that’s it, we’ve won, it’s our call.
To get to the final, yes Twickers it is,
Whatever the new name might be,
In a sense on the day, fate does its biz!
Win the semi so well, next week we shall see.
I know we’ll be proud, “Come on Ensians” the cry,
Our Club’s name writ large on the board.
Just "Hon" Pres I know, but I’ll be on a high,
What a group, what a day. Oh my word!!
Arthur Bartle (The Bard)