Castleford 31 Old Otliensians 13

OTLIENSIANS made Castleford fight hard for the bonus-point win they needed to clinch promotion to Yorkshire Two.

The scoreline might suggest that the victory was comfortably achieved, but that would do little justice to the visitors’ efforts.

Castleford came out of the blocks quickly using their sizeable forwards to create good ball for their solid backs. Good defence from flankers Sam Featherstone and Matt Taylor meant the home side were kept at bay.

Castleford opened the scoring with a pushover try and went 12-0 up after 18 minutes when they scored a converted try despite the efforts of Will Howarth, Declan Jackson and Kristian Keinhorst.

A good turnover by Rob Arbuckle and quick thinking from scrum half Rob Lofthouse allowed pacy winger Howarth to make a great break up into the Castleford 22.

He was well supported by fellow winger Jackson who was tackled high. Otliensians were awarded a penalty. The visitors kicked to the corner and won the resulting line-out. When the ball was released to the backs Castleford were offside. This time Otliensians were in front of the uprights so Keinhorst slotted it over to reduce the deficit to 12-3.

Lofthouse had to leave the field with a knock to the knee so Keinhorst moved up to scrum half and Connor Bateman came on to full back.

Otliensians were forced into a further reshuffle when Howarth took a blow to the head. Nathan Rogers came on in the back row with Zak Stead slotting in at full back and Connor Bateman going out to the wing.

Despite the conditions deteriorating, Otliensians made a positive start to the second half. Great interplay between the backs and forwards took play deep into the Castleford 22 where quick recycling produced a try for Rogers. Bateman’s conversion reduced the deficit to two points.

Again Otliensians were on the attack again with some good forward play from Jones, Arbuckle and Taylor. Keeping Castleford in their 22. Keinhorst and Olly Eaves were giving quick ball with Luke Cowdell and Jackson threatening out wide.

Dom Oddy was held up over the line before a high tackle resulted in a penalty which Bateman landed to put Otliensians 13-12 up.

Gradually the momentum swung back to Castleford and a series of powerful pick and drives saw them score out wide.

A further injury blow saw Eaves turn his ankle. Keinhorst moved to a more familiar stand-off role, Rogers went to scrum half and Lee O'Donnell slotted in to the back row.

Castleford were again on the ascendancy using their big forwards well to create quick ball for their backs. Two more converted tries sealed their win.