OORUFC Match Report
21st February 2026
Bramley 20 vs 26 OORUFC
Ensians earn 4 points on the road
Old Otliensians visited Bramley Phoenix last Saturday for a ‘double header’; a delayed league match and the second round of the Yorkshire Silver trophy. Having beaten Phoenix earlier in the season the tourists were firm favourites and from the onset pressured the home side, pinning them inside their own half until a penalty gave Jake Bentley an easy 3 points.
The home side came back with some excellent ball handling from their full back and centres pressuring down the left. If it wasn’t for an excellent tackle from Ethan Heade they would have surely scored. Phoenix pressed on and to the cheers of the home crowds were eventually rewarded with an unconverted try in the right corner.
Moments later the lead switched back to Ensians with another penalty by Bentley.
Despite the 1 point lead Phoenix sensed they were on the ascendancy and powered their way over for another unconverted try. Just before the break, speed merchant Will Howarth found just enough space to dart away and score. Again Bentley’s kick was on target, closing the half at 10:13.
From the restart Ensians conceded a penalty in front of the posts, gifting the home side an easy 3 points to level the score.
Bramley attacked well and would have made more ground if it wasn’t for the tenacious tackling of the Gillson clan. Harry, Alex and especially Noel were always in the thick of it. Luke Cowdell at nr 8 also made many powerful breaks occupying several defenders.
Eventually it was winger Howarth who gave the blues back the lead with a scorching run down the left wing. Unopposed he touched down under the posts, making Bentley’s task a formality. Just when the away supporters were feeling a little more relaxed the home side levelled the scores with a converted try.
At twenty points apiece with ten minutes to play the game could have gone either way, but Ensians slotted two further penalties taking the score to 20:26. The home side toiled until the dying minutes to claw back a score but Ensians shear perseverance paid off in the end.
Man of the match was awarded to young replacement scrum half Sydney Dojhan-Wood who played his socks off.
With a game in hand, Otliensians currently sit in 4th place in the Yorkshire 2 league table.
Next week we travel to Northallerton. 2pm KO
Report: Ben Ritson
League Table
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