Stocksbridge 28 Old Otliensians 5

STOCKSBRIDGE has never been a happy hunting ground for Otliensians with its sloping pitch high in the hills above Sheffield and this encounter proved to be no exception.

On top of this, the visitors were conscious of the fact that the home side was responsible for one of only two defeats suffered by league leaders Old Grovians.

On a fine afternoon the taller and heavier home pack completely dominated the scrums forcing Otliensians to live on limited and often untidy possession.

Although the visitors competed well at times, there was an all-round lack of cohesion and frequent handling errors didn't help.

The hosts scored three converted tries playing with the slope in the first half to one unconverted score by Otliensians and they were awarded a penalty try in the scrappy second half.

The visitors started well up the slope gaining territory with forwards and backs linking well. Despite the dry conditions, both wingers were guilty of dropping passes when early ball came their way.

The resulting scrums gave Stocksbridge opportunities to push the ball downfield and a driving maul saw them trundle over the line for a converted try for a 7-0 lead.

From the re-start, Otliensians secured possession with scrum half Rob Lofthouse opening things up. Lively lock Matt Taylor made a good run up the right flank and offloaded to winger Declan Jackson who rounded the cover to score out wide.

Otliensians were competing well in the line-outs through lock Ali Campbell and flanker Sam Featherstone and although half backs Lofthouse and Ollie Eaves tried to get their back line moving, slow passing and determined defence meant that moves came to nothing.

The visitors were working hard in defence through the back row of Ollie Cooper, Rob Arbuckle and Featherstone, but they ended up being pinned down in their own 22 for long periods. A scrum near the line gave the home pack another opportunity and they drove over for their second try with the conversion taking the score to 14-5.

The lighter visiting front row of Josh Dyson, Jim Dyson and Paddy Phipps worked hard and although they did command some of their own ball, scrum half Rob Lofthouse frequently had to deal with a retreating scrum.

Just when it looked as though Otliensians were beginning to take play into midfield and regain some degree of control, a turnover and a missed tackle allowed the home centre to run in under the posts to stretch the lead to 21-5.

Otliensians responded to the setback with winger Will Howarth being knocked into touch as he dived for the corner.

After the break and with the slope, Otliensians wasted no time in driving play into the home half through the boot of Eaves and some good forward play. The problem was that attempts to spread the ball wide frequently came to nothing through slow or inaccurate passing.

Newcomer Ali Fothergill came on at lock and showed his power and pace with some strong attacking runs as Stocksbridge were pressured in their own half and Jack Graham took over the hooking role from Jim Dyson. Prop Paddy Phipps jinked his way through to be pulled down just short of the line and then centre Nathan Rogers put winger Howarth in the clear only for the referee to blow up for a forward pass.

Otliensians should really have had some points on the board for this pressure, but the failure to do so gave Stocksbridge confidence as their forwards and backs combined well to push play upfield. A turnover gave Otliensians the ball in their own 22, but a clearance kick was charged down and gathered by the home side who inter-passed and narrowly missed scoring in the corner.

The visitors knocked on at the subsequent line-out and as they struggled to prevent a pushover try, they were twice penalised for offside before the referee awarded a penalty try to extend the lead to 28-5.