Yorkshire Division Three: Stocksbridge 10 Old Otliensians 5

STOCKSBRIDGE has not been a happy hunting ground for Old Otliensians, so it was with some trepidation that they made the trip to the exposed, hill-top pitch in Sheffield.

On a cold and blustery day, with black clouds looming, the hosts kicked off down the slope but they found prop Josh Dyson, second-row Jack Smith and open-side flanker Sam Featherstone in determined mood.

However, sloppy play at the breakdown led to a Stocksbridge penalty in the fifth minute, and they kicked the ball into touch eight metres out, gathered the ball from the line-out and scored a converted try from a driving maul.

But the rest of the half belonged to the visitors, with the front row of Michael Groves, James and Josh Dyson coping well against bigger opposition, and even taking ball against the head.

Strong running from blind-side flanker Alex Albreicht, No 8 Rob Arbuckle and Smith got Otliensians over the gain line, which meant that half-backs Rob Lofthouse and Oli Eaves were able to move the ball well to centres Luke Freer and Chris Westland.

The home side were getting extremely frustrated with their lack of ball and apart from giving several penalties away at the breakdown for killing the ball, they lost a player to the sin-bin on 22 minutes for swinging a punch, putting the home side under more pressure.

Old Otliensians kept battering the home side into their 22, but the narrow pitch meant that when wingers Connor Bateman and Josh Howarth got the ball, there was never much space.

Both, however, were making good yards, although sloppy handling, be they knock-ons or poor passes, cost the visitors dearly when a pass to hand could have lead to a score.

Stocksbridge found no way through a defence, so tried kicking over the top, but full back Will Cooper showed composure beyond his years and either returned the kick or ran it back, both with interest.

Despite having nearly all the possession, the visitors could not turn their pressure into points and the half ended at 7-0 to the home side. Stocksbridge started the second half brightly, using their strong forwards and sizeable inside centre to make good carries, but again the Otliensians defence held as the home penalty count crept up.

John Offer came on at hooker. Oli Cooper at blind-side prop, Kristian Keinhorst at fly half and Nick Keinhorst at outside centre, with Westland moving inside.

On 60 minutes, 'Ensians managed to break the deadlock. Arbuckle made a great break upfield and quick play at the breakdown meant the retreating defence was caught unawares, another great offload out of contact from Westland giving the ball to Howarth, who bulldozed his way over.

The conversion was missed, leaving the score at 7-5, and Eaves came back on at inside centre and Freer was on at scrum half for Lofthouse after both suffered knocks.

Stocksbridge made their way upfield in the 68th minute via a great break from their inside centre, and the visitors were judged to have been offside, the kick at goal extending the home side's lead to 10-5.

Again Ensians pressurised hard from the restart, turning over ball and working their way into the home 22.

Stocksbridge's high penalty count resulted in a second yellow card a minute after that successful penalty and they were made to defend for their lives as Offer was held up over the line.

A third home player was yellow carded in the 77th minute after being penalised at the breakdown but their spirited defence held out, despite being two men short for a spell.