OORUFC Match Report
18th October 2025
Huddersfield Laund Hill 28 vs 36 OORUFC
an outstanding second-half performance
For the first time in many years Old Otliensians travelled to Calendine Nook to play Huddersfield Laund Hill (formerly Y.M.C.A). An impressive set up with a wide pitch and great facilities. It was a cool dry calm afternoon, ideal for open rugby. ’Ensians were anticipating a tough game against opponents who had had only one defeat this season and this is exactly what happened; not a game for spectators of a nervous disposition.
The visitors started brightly with Luke Cowdell breaking 3 tackles in the home half, before passing out to Will Howarth who streaked over to score an unconverted try.
The Reds then had 7 minutes of ascendancy, resulting in a converted try. Another attack quickly followed but was thankfully cut short by try saving tackles from Sydney Dojahn-Wood and Jake Bentley. Not to be outdone, just 15 minutes later from a scrum in their own half, Josh Howarth flicked the ball to namesake Will, who “flew” for 60 metres to score a super try converted by Jake Bentley .
The visitor’s scrums were working well, but after 33 minutes on the halfway line, the ball was miss-handled by Ensian's backs. Huddersfield's speedy centre was up quickly and hacked the loose ball back downfield towards the try line. He outpaced the defence in the race to the line to score a converted try and take back the lead at 14-12 in ‘Hills’ favour.
Two tries in quick succession followed; the first was from powerful play by Jay Walsh enabling Will Howarth to achieve his hat trick (unconverted) and the second for the Home team through strong forward play wide out followed by a very good conversion.
The visiting supporters have very high expectations of their team and when missed tackles gifted Huddersfield a converted try on the cusp of half time it seemed that unusually the team was somewhat “off colour”.
The half time score of 28-17 gave the hosts a two score cushion, the lead having changed six times in the half.
The coaching staff must have had “a few words” at half time, as ‘Ensians started the second half brightly with Luke Cowdell and Harry Gillson prominent. However it took two yellow cards for the home team and a further 25 minutes, before Captain Luke Exley forced his way over for a try converted by Jake Bentley to reduce the arrears to 4 points.
Then with 35 minutes on the clock—but with much extra time to come—after great hard work by the forwards, with Alex Powell’s red scrum cap very visible, Alex Gillson was forced over for an unconverted try to take the lead by a single point.
The final score was a cracker! On a free ball stand off Olly Eaves chipped a ‘pin-head' accurate kick to the left wing where Will-o-the-wisp Howarth scooped it up to score his 4th try of the match out wide. This was superbly converted by Jake Bentley to gain the two score cushion
However the team and spectators had to endure no less than 15 minutes extra time mainly in the visitor’s half, but the defence was top notch and ‘Ensians finished up winners by 36 points to 28.
This was a good victory and an exciting game to watch and kept Ensians top equal on match points in the League with 25 points – only being third on points scored difference.
John Churchman
League Table
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