OORUFC Match Report
18th May 2025
Allianz Stadium (Twickers/HQ)
Old Georgians 26 vs 35 OORUFC
Ensians triumph at Twickenham
A team effort but Will Howarth scores four
520 miles travelled. 210 points scored. Three league champions defeated.
Otliensians again Twickenham Champions.
Last Saturday Otliensians travelled down to the home of English rugby; the Allianz Stadium at Twickenham for a thrilling encounter against Old Georgians, in the Papa Johns Counties 3 championship final.
During the tense pre-match preparations, the boys received a lovely message of encouragement from fellow Prince Henry's pupil and ex England star Danny Care. This set the stage and reminded everybody of the scale of their achievements so far.
Hailing from Weybridge, only 20 minutes down the road, the opposition had support in droves and started the game with fervidity, securing possession from their own kick. A lost lineout on Ensians 22 gave Georgians the momentum they needed to break through, their speedy no. 8 touching down under the posts. The easy conversion gave them a 7nil lead and with just under two minutes on the clock the tension in the air was palpable.
From the restart, inside centre Will Cooper kicked long and with good pressure from the forwards forced a sliced clearance from Georgians centre. Ensians counter was looking good, and a menacing run from second row Jay Walsh set the tone, but frustratingly Georgians won the ball in the tackle and set off on their own counter attack. The ball ended up with Georgians hooker, who sent a long grubber kick back into Ensians half. Sadly for him it stopped in front of enterprising full back Connor Bateman. As we’ve seen many times before, Bateman set off on an arcing cross-field gallop before careering straight down the left wing. With top try scorer Will Howarth in support, Bateman took play into the opposition’s half before passing out to the winger. The west stand erupted as Will shot down the line, beating two would-be tacklers. With a cheeky dummy he stepped around the last man and cruised over to score. Jake Bentley added the extra two points to level the score and turn back the clock.
From the restart another poor kick, this time from Ensians, switched the direction of play. Georgians fullback carved his way through the blue shirts before passing on to his supporting forwards. They were almost through again, but conceded a penalty for crossing. The Ensians supporters breathed a sigh of relief as Jake Bentley cleared for touch and released the pressure.
With only 7 minutes played, the tempo of the match was nothing we’d experienced before; both teams matching each other play for play. Ensians tried on several occasions to break free, but Georgians defensive line was up on them in a flash and an overzealous attempt at an interception resulted in their vice captain taking a ten minute yellow card break.
With a lineout on Otliensians 22, Georgians excellent no. 7 set off on a charge down the middle. Harry Gillson stopped him in his tracks and fly half Ollie Eaves did incredibly well to secure the ball in the tackle. Bentley kicked long, halting the attack …for now.
Later in the half Georgians suffered a second yellow card for a dangerous tackle and their outstanding no. 3 had to take a break. Once again with a one-man advantage, Ensians really needed to take the upper hand. With a clean scrum on the half way line Harry Bentley spun the ball down the line and Jake Bentley ran wide, drawing three men before off-loading left to Howarth. The three drifting defenders had no chance. Just as their front row forwards were raising their heads from the scrum, Howarth was already crossing the line to score. Again the considerate touchdown gave Jake a simple conversion and Ensians had the lead for the first time in the match at 14:7
The Gillson clan excelled at frustrating the Weybridge boys, harrassing them at every breakdown and forcing errors on several occasions.
Now with their tails up, the blues hammered into their maroon-hooped opponents, phase after phase depleting their energy levels. Paddy Phipps, Noel and Harry Gillson, Captain Exley, John Neal…. the pressure was relentless. Now just 10m out, it looked like another score was on the cards, but Ensians were penalised in the breakdown for not releasing.
Georgians took a deep breath, as their centre took the penalty kick for touch. Touch wasn’t found, and danger man Bateman regained possession. Out to Eaves, on to Cowdell, back to Eaves… the wide eyed supporters rose to their feet as the momentum built. Now just twenty five metres out ‘Eavesy' passed back inside to Cowdell. With hooker Alex Gillson on his right and Howarth on his left, Cowdell waited until he sensed the fullback was committed, before passing out left. Howarth dashed in for his easiest try of the day. To the jubilant cheers of the loyal Ensians supporters, Bentley’s conversion sailed through the uprights, giving Otliensians a 14-point lead.
From the restart, prop and Marine commando Paddy Phipps set off on a solo charge like a ‘man possessed’. Determination shone through his grimace as he broke through tackle after tackle. Eventually the sixth tackler was successful and stopped his charge. Sadly the yards gained were soon lost when Ensians were penalised twice for technical errors, shifting the momentum back to the Surrey boys. For the next few minutes they pinned Ensians on their try line. Eventually their no. 8 spotted the whitewash and dived for the line. Miraculously flanker Noel Gillson got his body under the player and rolled him over in the tackle, denying the grounding. As the half time whistle blew, the fourteen point advantage gave Ensians supporters reason to dream.
Now 15-men strong, the first stanza of the second half belonged solely to the Southern boys. With fine handling from their backs they recycled the ball well, making their way upfield. Ensians tackled valiantly, but eventually the OGs’ young substitute centre punched his way through and scored under the posts. The simple conversion took Georgians within a score of levelling the match. Now with their heads held high they knew they were back in the game and from the restart once again inched their way back upfield. Almost every player handled the ball, their flanker making the biggest impact took play inside Ensians 22. In due course their artful scrum-half sneaked through the line to score. The conversion levelled the scores, and instantly quashed any idea that the game was over.
With 30 minutes still on the clock, the battle was well and truly ‘on’.
With the wind in their favour, Georgians continued the attack from the restart and made their way back upfield. With little possession since the restart, cracks started to appear in Ensians zeal and they did well to repel the onslaught. Play ebbed and flowed until a lineout on Ensians 5m line was won by Georgians second row, who was driven over to score. The conversion wasn’t to be, but the OGs’ were now 4 points ahead. Making three substitutions, Ensians coach Andy Hinchcliff hoped the momentum would shift back in their favour. Replacement prop George Martin made himself known from the get-go, hitting the line hard, leaving bodies strewn on the floor. Winning the ball at the breakdown, Martin secured possession deep in the opposition half. On the 22 Luke Cowdell found himself with the ball, but with three men around him there was little space. He appeared to embrace the tacklers, letting them think they’d done the job, before popping out from the other side, leaving the three tacklers wide-mouthed. With a celebratory hand in the air, Cowdell cruised over to score and level the game. With all eyes on Jake Bentley the crowd fell silent as he struck the ball perfectly from far out left. The successful conversion gave Ensians a 2-point lead.
The impetus was soon lost when Georgians took play back deep into Ensians half. With a penalty 10 metres from the try line, bizarrely their fly half didn't opt for a quick tap and head for the unguarded line, instead he waited for players to regroup, before opting for a lineout, which led to nothing.
With just ten minutes left on the clock, Ensians needed another score. They started to build the momentum, with the rousing chants of ‘Yorkshire Yorkshire’ ringing out from the stands. With a clean lineout inside their own half, the blues started the attack. Firstly Coops broke the line, occupying several of the Georgians players. The ball was quickly recycled by replacement scrum half Rob Lofthouse and then spun out to Alex Gillson. Gillson spotted Haworth far out wide and with just seven minutes left on the clock he sent a long miss-pass out to Will. With a deft ‘show and go’ Howarth stripped his opposite man and cruised in to score his fourth of the day. Cool-headed Jake Bentley added the important conversion, meaning the OG’s would need two scores to clawback the nine point deficit.
At 35:26 Ensians required cool heads and some game management. In the immortal words of past club member Billy Bradford, they needed to “Old-man ‘em”, for the last few minutes; “Nowt fancy”.
Georgians never ceased their attempts but Ensians held firm and worked down the clock until time ran out. Knowing it was the last play, Ollie Eaves sent a kick high up into the deserted east stand. Ensians players dropped to their knees intoxicated with a mixture of elation and exhaustion.
The second half had disappeared in a flash. It wasn’t until I saw RFU past president Rob Briars thrust his hand out to congratulate our Club President Arthur Bartle, that I knew the game was over and we’d done it again!
Old Georgians had certainly been the most challenging opponent we’d come across this season. The margins were so tight, but Otliensians had Yorkshire grit ‘in spades’ and their verve shone brighter on the day.
Ben Ritson
Papa John Cup Counties 3 & Below Championship Final Fixtures/Results
The game in photos, split into 8 albums
2 photographers, 4 albums each
From the Royal Box
I wrote “What a group, what a day, oh my word”,
Would that I know which word I should use.
“Yorkshire” the shout, loud and clear so I heard
From ‘Ensian fans, no way can we lose.
But could we, oh no, twenty-one–twenty-six,
Old Georgians play well, how hard we defend.
Tables are turned, try, we’re back in the mix.”,
A fifth seven points, the whistle, the end!
Deserv-ed or not, Royal Box is my place,
Our players climb up, receive their award.
Such pride and pure joy simply beam from each face,
I shake hands with most, for me there’s no word
That says how I feel, admire and respect
Their rugby, their skill, Prince Henry’s be proud.
Now for their Word, I pause and reflect.
“Magnifique” that’s it, I say it out loud.
We sometimes pretend, a loss we’d endure,
The final is reached, sufficient the day.
Journey back home, Cup safe and secure,
The win magnifique, we grin all the way!!
Arthur Bartle (The Bard)
RFU YouTube Live Stream
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