Old Otliensians 17 Wetherby 34

AN ENTERTAINING and well-fought game saw the stronger side take the spoils as league positions proved a point.

The hosts started well but no points were accrued and then Wetherby twice split their opponents’ defence with direct running and offloading.

A touchline conversion and an easier but equally precise one turned two tries into 14 points.

The hosts infringed too frequently as Wetherby wasted a try-scoring chance, then had a penalty reversed for questioning the referee.

A brilliant touch-find put Ensians in a strong attacking position and good play from the lineout led to a scoring pass taken “on the burst” by Nathan Rogers. Kristian Keinhorst slotted the conversion to put the Old Boys back in the match. Wetherby, however, won a penalty on the halfway line and elected to go for goal. A tremendous kick put them 17-7 up at the break.

The visitors were on top from the restart and, after a succession of scrums and drives close to the Ensians try-line, won another penalty and converted it to maintain their place-kicking consistency and bring the scoreboard to 20-7.

The hosts were struggling against an increasingly confident Wetherby and too many technical errors did little to help. However, after winning a turnover ball, the home side began to exert pressure of their own and put together some phases.

This was a good session for Ensians and a great run by Rogers was followed by a penalty kick to the corner. From the lineout a driving maul was rewarded with a try for Simon Hill, which Keinhorst improved with an immaculate strike.

Connor Bateman found two excellent touch kicks to keep the home side in contention and the same player succeeded with a penalty to cut the deficit to 20-17.

Skipper Sam Featherstone won line-outs and his side were recycling the ball well but, in the final quarter, they began to fall off tackles and show signs of fatigue. Lack of possession took its toll and two further converted tries to the visitors put a slant on the scoreboard that perhaps did not do justice to Ensians. Ultimately, though, Wetherby were the better side.