OORUFC Match Report
21st March 2026
Halifax 19 vs 47
Ensians hold top spot, all top 3 teams win
Last Saturday league leaders Otliensians travelled to Halifax’s Ovenden Park, determined to keep their top spot. Halifax were promoted with Ensians last season, but have struggled for one reason or another and currently sit in the relegation zone.
The beautiful afternoon was tainted with a somber note; a haunting minute silence in recognition of the three local boys who lost their lives in a car crash just a few days before. As a result the local league team had their fixture cancelled.
Following the silence I heard a ‘Fax supporter say to her husband, “Paul, I don’t recognise this team”, he responded “no luv there’s nine of our usual lads missing”.
As the whistle blew, Ensian’s supporters took a deep breath and fell silent for the first few minutes. This certainly wasn’t the side they were expecting to meet, nor was this a side that should have only won 2 matches out of 17. The Halifax lads hit the match with an unsustainable fervour. Smashing into Ensians defences upright with forearms for battering rams. Slightly stunned the visitors held their ground well and on the twenty fifth minute the ball was flung wide out left for winger Will Howarth. Howarth scampered down the wing with 3 brutes hot on his tail. No doubt the fear of being caught jettisoned him 60m to the line. Fly half Jake Bentley added the extras to give Ensians a 7 nil lead.
The home side quickly responded with an equalising try as a result of their impressive scrummaging.
Just before the break it was Ensians turn to ramp up the pressure and within the space of 10 minutes had given themselves a 17 point cushion. Prop Paddy Phipps showed a clean pair of heels as he ran from 20m out, stepping out of one tackled to cross the line. The conversion wasn’t to be, but this was the start of a fine phase of play by Ensians. The persistent pressure started to reveal cracks in the home-side’s paper thin composure. The high tackles and off sides started to mount and the resulting penalties gave the advantage to the attackers.
Luke Cowdell split ‘Fax’s flat defence with a deft shift of direction to score a converted try, this was quickly followed by a second for Howarth, closing the half at a more than respectable 7:24.
Playing in the centre this week, Cowdell was his usual indomitable self. Making his way up the pitch like a skilful bull in a china shop full of very big vases!
In the second half the scrums were more balanced. Perhaps the league ‘volunteers’ not used to ‘proper’ scrums, had worn themselves out. Sensing the home side were flagging, Ensians piled on the pressure and attacked at every opportunity.
The Gillson clan were on fine form; mild mannered Alex and his cousin Harry tackled everything that came near them. Big brother Noel made some excellent breaks from his loose forward position and on several occasions fed the ball out to younger brother Isaac on the wing to continue the attack. One such foray lead to Ensians next score when Isaac crossed the line for a converted try, taking the tally to 31 points.
Despite the margin, mid way through the half it was clear several Ensians players needed a break. Be it from previous injuries, or the shear physicality of the task at hand and substitutions were made. Jay Walsh as usual had a cracker, but came off with a bloody nose. His able replacement Sam Ellis made a seamless transition. Veteran Rob Arbuckle did well at prop, but let his younger replacement Mikey Groves continue the work and full back Conner Bateman was replaced by hard tackling Josh Howarth.
Ensians final try came from prop Paddy Phipps adding his second of the day to the shouts of ‘PADDY POWER’. The home side managed another two tries and one conversion that gave them some spark in the last quarter, but Ensians controlled the tempo and much to the frustration of the home side slowed the game down. The final points came from two cleanly taken penalties from Jake Bentley, closing the score at 19:47.
This away bonus point win gives Ensians a 2 point lead at the top.
Report: Ben Ritson
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