Hornsea 7 Old Otliensians 47

Old Otliensians secured promotion with their 16th win of the season and have now set their sights on securing the Yorkshire Division Four title.

The visitors played down the slight slope in the first half and took the lead when Joe Hatton scored an unconverted try in the fifth minute after a flowing move.

With their forwards providing a sound platform the Otliensians backs were able to maintain the pressure on the home side.

This resulted in a second unconverted try by Callum Doherty.

A penalty goal from Ben Hatton stretched the lead to 13-0 as Otliensians controlled the game.

Although Hornsea were trying hard they were neither strong enough nor fast enough to contain the visitors who scored two more tries before half-time.

The first by Lee O’Donnell came after a good combined movement between the forwards and backs. Prop Greg Jones was next to get his name on the scoresheet when he went over for a try which was converted by Ben Hatton to establish a 25-0 half-time lead.

There was a shock for Otliensians early in the second half when a neat interception saw Hornsea break-away to score a converted try.

The league leaders immediately replied with Joe Hatton’s second try.

They were in command of the game and it was no surprise that they ran three more tries – one of which was converted to put them well in control.

The first was a classic forwards try. Taking a line-out on the Hornsea 22 they executed a driving maul for Ross Nichols to score.

The forwards were again to the fore in creating the next try when Nichols crashed over for his second try.

Lee O’Donnell recycled the ball from the last move of the game and released the ball to the backs for man of the match Luke Freer to score a lovely try which was converted by Kristian Keinhorst.

It had been an entertaining game well refereed by Graeme Bentley but as hard as Hornsea tried they were unable to combat the speedy ‘Ensian team.

Otliensians 2nds won 44-28 at Knaresborough 2nds after scoring eight tries.

Andreas Xiachos, Ben Smith, Tobias Gill, Kieran Walker, Dominic Birkin, Conner Paley and Ken Luu, twice, all crossed the whitewash. Two were converted by Tobias Gill.

On Saturday both teams are at home against Ossett (3pm).