Rotherham Phoenix 20 Old Otliensians 41

OTLIENSIANS have made many fruitless journeys to Rotherham in the past so this victory was particularly welcome.

Injuries and unavailabilities had affected their selection but their side was soon in the groove with centre-turned-flanker Josh Howarth scoring a try after Rob Arbuckle capitalised on quickly-recycled ball to make the initial break. Connor Bateman’s conversion made it 7-0.

Rotherham launched their first spell of pressure after Otliensians failed to secure he restart, but the visitors kept their line intact.

Otliensians gradually asserted their control with good runs from Westland and strong support from the back row of Sam Featherstone, Rob Arbuckle and Josh Howarth.

Good interplay between Westland and Featherstone took play up to the line where Ollie Eaves was on hand to take the final pass. Bateman’s conversion stretched the advantage to 14-0.

Phoenix roused themselves and pushed play deep into the visitors’ half with their trademark driving mauls and direct running by their backs. Their reward was a penalty which they kicked to get on the scoreboard.

The score seemed to spark Otliensians into life with strong runs by fly half Eaves and centre Westland. The forwards were there in support through lively locks Keiran Walker and Tom Dyson who was playing his first game for many months.

As half the home pack was battling away in the corner to keep out powerful winger George Duncan, the ball was whipped out into midfield where Luke Cowdell used his strength and pace to beat three defenders and touch down near the posts. Bateman added the extras for a 21-3 lead at half-time.

Otliensians were reduced to 14 men early in the second half when a yellow card was handed out for a high tackle. Phoenix saw their opportunity and scored two tries to reduce the deficit to 21-13 with 30 minutes left.

It then became end-to-end rugby as Otliensians counter-attacked through strong running by Cowdell and Westland.

Fly half Eaves was having a fine game and was held up over the line before re-cycled ball allowed winger Bateman to show his pace and carve through a broken defence to score out wide.

If Otliensians thought the game was tied up, they were wrong when a turnover allowed the hosts to break away up the left to score in the corner and narrow the lead to 26- 20.

The visitors responded by putting together some good phases of rugby to show just what they were capable of as Lofthouse and Eaves started carving big holes in the opposition defence.

Good offloading put Cowdell into space where he dodged round defenders to go in at the corner for his second try.

Eaves broke through three minutes later and good support allowed scrum half Lofthouse to show his pace with a fine try out wide.

Eaves was causing major problems for the defence as he carved through yet again. This time flanker Howarth was in support and he fed winger Connor Paley who raced in at the corner to round off the scoring.