OORUFC Match Report
7th February 2026
Roundhegians 22 vs 22 OORUFC
Ensians earn 3 points from a muddy draw
What a climax!! What a comeback!! The last move of the game - after numerous phases by ‘Ensians the ball was passed out by the muddied exhausted forwards to stand off Ollie Eaves, who dived over in the corner to secure a well earned draw with Roundhegians. The touch judge’s flag went up in the air in celebration and the visiting supporters shouted and screamed in delight after an excellent and exciting hard fought game of rugby in the mud.
On a wet, grey day, Old Otliensians made the short trip to Chelwood Drive for a top of the table clash with Roundhegians. All the supporters needed some action to warm them up, and they certainly got it; a great game of two halves in the mud with no quarter given or asked for.
From the start ‘Hegians showed speed and excellent handling in the backs, despite the ball being like a bar of soap. Good defence and a try saving tackle by flanker Noel Gillson held them back momentarily, but a quick move after 10 minutes earned them a converted try. Not to be outdone, the visitors came back with a super penalty kick by Jake Bentley, taking play to the 5 metre line. Second row Jay Walsh secured possession and crashed over for an unconverted try closing the deficit to just 2 points.
The rest of the first half was mostly inside ‘Ensian's territory, with the home team launching attack after attack. Ensians excellent defence led by forwards Sam Featherstone and Ali Campbell kept Hegians ambitions at bay until a fine 40 metre penalty goal after 32 minutes, increased the home lead to 10:5.
A home 50/22 came to nothing, but soon afterwards they gained a line-out 'against the head', opened out play and only a superb tackle by Syd Dojahn-Wood saved the day. However, the pressure told and ‘Hegians scored another converted try on the cusp of half time making the score 17 points to 5.
Early in the second half the pitch soon turned to a mudbath as the drizzle turned to rain. The home team were still in the ascendancy and after 15 minutes a high kick slithered from the grasp of the defence resulting in another converted try for ‘Hegians, increasing their lead to 22 points to 5.
Ensians then took the game by the scruff of the neck and the forwards, with man of the match Will Rigg, Paddy Phipps, and Corey Cowan prominent, drove forward metre by metre to the home line, where, after 23 minutes, Jay Walsh scored his second try, this time converted by Jake Bentley.
Now just 10 points adrift, from the kick off the visitors put the home team under the cosh . Isaac Gillson tested the home defence on the right wing and then the forwards controlled the drive with George Martin to the fore. Scrum half Harry Bentley spun the ball wide to Will Howarth on the left wing, who beat the opposition in his own inimitable style to score a super unconverted try to bring the score to 22 points to 17.
Sam Ellis came on to supply some 'fresh legs' and with about 7 minutes of injury time to play, after the home team had missed a long range penalty, the muddied Ensians players drove their way up the pitch phase by phase to score and level the game.
It had been an exhilarating game between two well matched teams and a draw was a fair result. Both teams and their supporters will be anticipating another great game later in the season on a dry pitch.
John Churchman
League Table
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