OORUFC Match Report
11th October 2025
OORUFC 45 vs 38 Ripon
Otliensians make it 4 from 4
Last Saturday Otliensians welcomed Ripon to Chaffer’s field. With Ripon having only enjoyed one win to date versus Ensians "Three from three", supporters were quietly confident. What unfolded was the toughest contest of the season to date, with both teams responding incrementally throughout the match.
Ensians set the tone from the kick off with a 50m solo run from Luke Cowdell, frustratingly the territory led to nothing. Ripon tackled very well and soon turned the direction of play in their favour. Ensians came back with a 50/22 from Jake Bentley to regain the lost ground and didn’t release the pressure until eventually winger Will Howarth dashed into the left corner. Sadly Bentley’s conversion wasn’t to be.
5 minutes later Ripon were on the attack, but their centre lost the ball mid run. The referees arm out signalling the knock on had been spotted and advantage was being played. To the amazement of the crowd just 3 seconds later Ripon’s big second row gathered the loose ball and charged over the line to score a converted try. How on earth the referee deemed the advantage had been played out, escaped most. But sadly this is the nature of the game sometimes.
Play continued to ebb and flow in a fierce battle for territory. Ensians forcing their opponents to make tackle after tackle. Just before the break Ripon extended their lead with an excellent unconverted try when their fly half sent a perfectly placed kick to the corner for his wingman to catch and ground. The half closed at 5:12 in favour of the visitors.
From a line out on the halfway line, Ensians commenced their first attack of the second half. Initially second row Jay Walsh cut through making it inside their 22. He made further ground in the second phase before captain Luke Exley finished the job. Bentley’s conversion levelled the score at 12 apiece.
Frustratingly from the restart Ensians failed clearance was gathered by Ripon’s right wing. Looking like he’d borrowed Luke Cowdell’s ‘Teflon coated shirt’, he cut through 6 players without a finger on him. The successful cover tackle too late, as momentum took him over the line. The easy conversion gave Ripon a 7 point lead.
From the restart, Ripon’s clearance went ‘out on the full’, followed by a couple of favourable penalties that saw Ensians back inside Ripon’s danger zone. On the third phase Jay Walsh powered his way into the left corner to score. Miraculously keeping his body out of touch as he was tackled. Bentley’s super conversion levelled the scores once again and momentarily eased the touch side nerves. Ripon kept up the pressure and their tenacity was soon rewarded. Inside their 22 Ensians should have cleared their line, but instead decided to run with the ball. Ripon’s back line gave Ensian’s backs no space and forced the error that lead to an interception try for their winger. The conversion gave Ripon back the lead at 19:26. With 25 minutes left on the clock it was ‘game on’.
From the restart Ripon pinned Ensians in their own half, yet again probing for weaknesses. In the scramble Ensian’s left wing Will Howarth darted from the blind side of a maul down the wing. Passing the first two men it was a race to the corner for the try. Amazingly Ripon's full back made a super cover tackle with just yards to go. Had it not been for the virus Howarth had been suffering with all week, it’s doubtful he would have been caught. When full fit, there’s very few who could have caught him. The ball was quickly recycled and passed down the line, out to Cowdell. 15m out, in front of the posts; the writing was on the wall. … TRY. the easy conversion levelled the scores once again.
From the restart Ensians lost possession and then regained it moments later. To the cheers of the crowd Cowdell broke from the 22. He made it 50m upfield before being felled. The ball passed right with just yards to go. The air was full of cries convinced the try would be scored, but sadly the last pass didn’t find its man and was spilt forward. Ripon played the advantage and kicked long straight to Jake Bentley, who cleanly caught the kick before setting off on a jinking run back upfield towards the line. New comer Alex Powell found himself in the right place at the right time, and finished off the move, scoring in the corner. Bentley’s super conversion took the lead at 33 points to 26.
Despite visibly starting to tire Ripon dug deep and managed another unconverted try closing their deficit to just 2 points. This score lifted their spirits, knowing the game was not out of sight. yet again Ensians rallied and responded in full with a ‘close quarter’ try from Captain Luke Exley. Bentley once again secured the extras taking the score to 40:31.
What followed was perhaps the try of the season to date from young winger Isaac Gillson. From inside his 22’ Gillson darted down the left wing with Howarth in support. side stepping and dummying his way to the try line. The unconverted try sealed Ensians points tally for the day at 45.
Ripon came back with another converted try in the dying minutes of the match to close the score at 45:38. The whole of Chaffers field roared as the final whistle blew.
What a nail biter!
Report: Ben Ritson
League Table
Facebook
X (Twitter)