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OLD OTLIENSIANS MID-SEASON REVIEW - Dec.09
At the mid-point of the season, Club Coach
Hugh Gumbs and his coaching team can look back on a reasonably successful
first half of the season. The 1st XV under skipper James Duggan got off to a
flying start in Yorkshire League 3 with 6 victories out of the first 7 games
to place them in second place behind Roundhegians. Injuries and
unavailability then began to take their toll and the last three league games
of the year against Roundhegians, Thornensians and Bramley Phoenix ended in
defeats, leaving ‘Ensians in sixth position from the top on 12 points. The
last match against low-lying Garforth on the 19th December was called off
along with most other games because of snow and frost.
In the Yorkshire Silver Trophy, ‘Ensians accounted for Burley and then
gained revenge for an earlier League defeat by beating high-flying
Roundhegians to reach the quarter-final which is scheduled to be at home
against Halifax Vandals on 27th February.
Young flanker James Holland leads the try-scoring with 8 and, despite
missing several games through injury, centre Will Foster leads the point
scoring with 40 from 10 conversion, 5 penalties and a try.
The 2nd XV captained by prop Chris Myers has had a successful first half of
the season having been newly promoted to Yorkshire Merit table 3. They have
won 8 of their first 11 Merit table matches to place them 3rd from the top.
Winger Liam Copping is leading try-scorer with 9 and once again, fly half
Matt Tenniswood leads the points scored with an impressive 104 from his
trusty boot.
The 3rd XV started the season later than usual due to injuries and
unavailability, but once in their stride, they managed to win 5 of their 8
matches. Veteran full-back Graham Bentley leads the points table with 30
points from 6 tries.
With players recovering from injury over the Christmas/New Year lay off, the
hope is that the 1st XV will again make its mark in the League and progress
in the Silver Trophy and the 2nd and 3rd XVs will continue to build on their
successes in first half of the season
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