OORUFC Match Report
26th September 2026
OORUFC 34 vs 31 Old Crossleyans
Yorkshire 1 Game 1
Ensians dig deep to crush the Crocs
Last Saturday Otliensians opened their centenary season in Yorkshire One with a visit from Old Crossleyans aka ’the Crocs’.
It’s been over 20 years since the Crocs have enjoyed the vista at Chaffers field and they arrived with an air of confidence. Having been demoted from North East 2 after loosing a late season playoff against Wetherby, the Halifax boys were no doubt expecting an easy afternoon against the Yorkshire 1 newcomers. Sadly for their bemused supporters what they encountered was a squad brimming with steely fervour.
Initially the visitors dominated the game and Ensians had to defend a barrage of attacks. An early yellow card for Will Cooper gave the Crocs the space they needed and minutes later their speedy winger carved a super line back in field to score under the posts.
The blues responded minutes later with 3 points from a penalty kick from Jake Bentley.
It took another 20 minutes for Ensians to get back on track. Excellent tackling from Jake Bentley and Noel Gillson gave the blues possession. The ball was flung left for speedy winger Will Howarth. With no space down the wing he cut back inside. Tackled but not held he broke free and exploded towards the try line. Scoring under the posts he gave Bentley an easy conversion, taking the tally to 10:7.
Captain Luke Exley, alongside Mickey Groves managed the pack well and the scrums were well balanced for most of the match.
Forty minutes in Crossleyans took back the lead with another score from their right wing. The conversion from the touch line wasn’t to be. From the restart Ensians moved up a gear, pressuring the Crocs into mistakes. A series of penalties followed and eventually Connor Bateman scored out left. The conversion drifted far right in the wind, closing the half at 15:12.
Bateman was pivotal in the next move just after the restart. Breaking from a defensive position he made his way upfield into the opposition’s half. He was caught but did well to pass left and release Howarth to finish the race to the line. Jake Bentley added the extras increasing their lead to 22:12. This ten point cushion was soon diminished to just 5 points when Crossleyan's big forwards powered over for an unconverted try in the corner. Ensians responded with a period of immense pressure pinning the Crocs to their try line. Sadly a score didn’t come and eventually a lost ball was hacked back downfield by the visitors. The ball bounce perfectly for the winger to gather and unopposed he was surely to score. Thankfully Howarth shot back and made a try saving tackle and regained possession. The blues went straight back upfield to finish what they’d started. It was Luke Cowdell this time who powered his way through two men to score. Bentley once again kicked well, taking the score to 29:17.
Ten minutes into the half it was the visitors who suffered a yellow card. The man advantage for Ensians wasn’t initially noticeable as play ebbed and flowed in the centre of the pitch. Eventually with a solid scrum on the halfway line Ensians spun the ball down the line to Jake Bentley now at outside centre. He spotted a gap and made a good 20m before passing left to Will Howarth. Howarth stepped left and raced to the line to score his third of the day. The swirling wind once again frustrated Bentley but with the scoreline at 34:17 the side-line supporters could hopefully relax a little and enjoy the last quarter of the match in the autumn sunshine.
How wrong. The last stanza of the match belonged solely to Crossleyans and by close of play they’d managed to reduce their deficit to an uncomfortable 3 points. Just when the visitors thought the game was lost, a penalty try and a yellow for Ensians raised their spirits. From the restart they controlled play inside Ensians 22 and eventually scored again. Knowing time was running out, their stand off converted with a quick drop goal and dashed back for the restart.
Thankfully time did run out and Will Cooper sent the ball into touch to the sounds of cheers and the referees final whistle.
Report: Ben Ritson
Meanwhile, the 2nds travelled away to Richmondshire and secured their second victory of the season, making a hugely promising start to their Merit League campaign. With the squad continuing to gel week in, week out, there’s plenty of excitement ahead for this group of lads.
We couldn’t have asked for a better opening week in our centenary year. Your support was immense, as always.
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