OORUFC Match Report
28th February 2026
Northallerton 19 vs 54 OORUFC
Otliensians dominate Northallerton on their home turf
Only a few seasons ago the journey up the A1 to Northallerton was fraught with nervous visions of 20 stone props capable of lifting a cow in each arm. Their rolling maul was a master class. Although still a hefty bunch, they are certainly not the side they used to be. Inside centre Ollie Eaves opened the scoring for Ensians, as he artfully split the back line with a dummy and touched down under the posts. Jake Bentley added the simple conversion. From the kick off the home side witnessed winger Will Howarth’s lightning speed when he shot down the left wing to score. The conversion again on target gave the blues a 14 point cushion with less minutes played.
North did manage a score 15 minutes in, when their big forwards powered over in the corner for an unconverted try, but the Ensians didn’t let a single score unsettle their determination and quickly responded with another 3 tries. Two more for Howarth and one for full back Isaac Gillson. Thirty minutes into the match the home side look crushed as they huddled under the posts once more. Their captain bellowing “don’t give it to that bloody winger”. At the break the home side were 35 points adrift.
The second half was certainly more of a contest; perhaps Ensians had eased off a little, or maybe North’s half time team talk and threat of demotion had filtered its way through some 'cauliflower ears’.
Play ebbed and flowed for the next 15 minutes until midway through the second half the home side secured another 7 points with a push over try, taking the score to 12:40.
Ensians nr 8 Luke Cowdell responded with a bruising charge through several players to score under the posts, taking Ensians tally to 47. With 10 minutes left young Isaac Gillson rubbed salt in the home side’s wounds with a fabulous 60m solo try. Jinking and stepping his way through at least 10 green shirts. Bentley's conversion sealed Ensians tally at 54 points. The home side managed a consolation score in the dying minutes to close the game at 19:54.
This away bonus-point win keeps Otliensians in the promotion zone.
Next week’s home game is a top of the table clash with league leaders Bridlington.
KO 2:15 at Chaffers Field.
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