Old Grovians 39 Old Otliensians 17

OLD Grovians clinched the win and four-try bonus point that they needed to earn promotion with four matches left.

However, Old Otliensians, despite late drop-outs due to illness, took the lead when prop Gregg Jones, who had to play hooker, threw the ball to lock Ali Campbell at the tail of the line-out.

Scrum half Rob Lofthouse then got the backline moving, and winger Declan Jackson rounded his opposite number to score out wide.

Open-side flanker Simon Holme, on his debut, hauled the hosts level from a ninth-minute maul, Adam Weaving converting for 7-5.

Visiting No 8 Rob Arbuckle, flanker Sam Featherstone, Campbell and prop Josh Dyson put in some great tackles, while centres Dom Oddy and Luke Cowdell were doing well to contain the dangerous home backs.

But Weaving’s great tactical kicking kept full back Zak Stead and wingers Will Prest and Jackson on their toes, and when a great Grovians kick-chase brought a penalty, Weaving kicked it to make it 10-5.

Otliensians lock Jack Smith left the field with a knee injury after 25 minutes and, as Grovians settled into their patterns, Jaskaran Deu scored their second try two minutes later to culminate a series of pick and drives.

Otliensians then lost Oddy to a recurring hamstring injury on the half-hour, Stead moving to 12 and Kris Keinhorst coming on at full back.

The home side cashed in on a couple of penalties for offside at the breakdown with a second Holme try, Weaving converting for 22-5.

Grovians had the bit between their teeth in the second half and, although Keinhorst, Stead, Cooper and Featherstone made great covering tackles, home centre Anthony Griffin got the crucial bonus-point try after 43 minutes. Weaving converted and, two minutes later, added a drop goal.

However, Grovians paid for their expansive approach, conceding turnover ball for Lofthouse before flanker Oli Cooper ran the ball in from the ten-metre line on 47 minutes.

Speedy home winger Dion Hendricks replied with a try that Weaving converted for 39-10 three minutes later but the visitors showed there was nothing wrong with their spirit with a try by prop Louis Hooper in the 78th minute.

Grovians will take the championship if they can claim bonus-point wins at Rotherham Phoenix on March 21 and at home to Stocksbridge on March 28.