Old Otliensians 27 Old Modernians 22 by John Harrison

NEWLY-promoted Old Otliensians marked their return to Yorkshire Three with a hard-earned win.

They had to survive a second-half onslaught from the visitors to emerge with the victory.

Otliensians started off brightly in the first half scoring four tries through centre Luke Cowdell and a hat-trick from dangerous winger Declan Jackson.

Two conversions and a penalty from stand-off Kristian Keinhorst gave the hosts a 27-10 lead at the break, but they then had to withstand almost continuous Modernians’ pressure in the second half.

The open rugby which characterised last season’s Yorkshire Four title triumph was evident.

Good inter-passing among the backs allowed centre Cowdell to scamper through the defence to score under the posts.

The conversion by Keinhorst gave the hosts a 7-0 lead after four minutes.

With a much bigger and heavier pack, the visitors drove upfield and landed a penalty.

After an even spell of play, Otliensians extended their lead. Cowdell put winger Jackson away to round his man and score halfway out after 20 minutes.

Just three minutes later Jackson again found himself with space out wide to bamboozle the defence and score near the posts, with the conversion by Keinhorst making it 19-3.

The visitors then raised their game and responded with some powerful driving and offloading which produced a converted try.

For the home side newcomers Louis Hooper and Greg Manning in the pack and Zac Stead and Oliver Eaves in the backs showed up well as they settled in.

Speed off the line and sound defence kept the heavier Mods pack at bay as lively scrum half Rob Lofthouse and the home back unit continued to find holes in the visitors’ defence.

Winger Ieuan Cranswick had a try disallowed before Keinhorst kicked a penalty to stretch the lead to 22-10. Centre Eaves then made a break and put in a carefully-weighted kick to the corner where Jackson popped up from the opposite wing to touch down to complete his hat-trick.

The second half was a completely different story as the visitors’ pack gradually began to dominate.

As the pressure began to build, the home side found themselves defending on the line and the yellow-carding of a forward caused still more problems.

Lock Toby Barltrop and tireless flankers Featherstone and Lee O’Donnell put in some telling tackles, but eventually ‘Ensians ran out of defenders as the Mods backs broke through. The conversion moved the score to 27-17.

The continuous pressure eventually told as Mods went over halfway out. The conversion attempt bounced off the upright to leave the score at 27–22.

With another yellow card the home side was again down to 14 men, but this seemed to lift their resolve to keep Modernians out as they produced an heroic display of non-stop tackling. which brought its rewards.