Old Otliensians 48 Stocksbridge 5

Otliensians ran in eight tries as they defeated the Stocksbridge which they had pipped for the Division Four title last season.

Half backs Rob Lofthouse and Ollie Eaves were soon posing problems for Stocksbridge and centre Luke Cowdell twice found space in the opening ten minutes to run in tries. Unfortunately both conversions were fluffed.

Stocksbridge hit back and exerted heavy pressure. Their bigger pack hammered away at the home defence and despite the determined work of Ollie Cooper, Rob Arbuckle and centre-turned-flanker Nathan Rogers, the visitors scored an unconverted try.

Despite being outweighed, the home front row of Greg Jones and the Dyson brothers James and Josh, took four balls against the head.

Lock Ali Campbell and Rogers competed well in the line-outs and the result was a steady supply of ball to their backs.

This caused major problems for the visitors and their spectators visibly shuddered when the ball got anywhere near Cowdell or winger Declan Jackson.

Cowdell completed his hat-trick after 17 minutes when his blistering pace saw him carve through a bewildered defence and he added the extras to move the score to 17-5.

Cowdell then put winger Jackson away to score halfway out and followed this up with his fourth try to take the score to 27-5 at half-time.

After the break, Kristian Keinhorst came on at full back with the reliable Zac Stead moving to the wing and Ieuan Cranswick taking over at scrum half.

The half-time talk by the Stocksbridge coach seemed to rally his side as they began to use their pack more to gain territory.

Replacement prop Tom Twist and hooker Rob Lyon quickly settled in and the home scrum continued to function well.

Centre Cowdell once more found a gap to burst through for his fifth try with defenders grasping at thin air as he scored near the posts. Keinhorst converted to stretch the lead to 34-5.

Stocksbridge never gave up, but they simply could not cope with the pace and slick handling of the home back division. The home backs rounded off a fine afternoon with two more tries from Jackson to complete his hat-trick. Two conversions from Keinhorst, took the final score to 48-5.

This was an excellent victory by the hosts with both backs and forwards working well together to produce some exciting rugby.

With both Old Grovians and Thornensians losing, Otliensians are now level on points with leaders Old Grovians but have an inferior points difference.

Otliensians face a tougher test next week on the away trip to Thornensians who are currently lying two places below them.