Yorkshire Division Three: Stocksbridge 0 Old Otliensians 24

OLD Otliensians travelled to Stocksbridge with a handful of new signings for their league opener, and also welcomed back Ieuan Cranswick, who had gone into temporary retirement came following a serious injury.

Otliensians had first use of the slope but that and the incessant rain were not conducive to open rugby.

The visitors held parity in the scrums in the opening exchanges but looked a little rusty at the line-out.

With 20 minutes gone, quick ball from a ruck on halfway released debutant full back Alex Murphy and, having broken the gain line and moved into the home 22, he slipped the ball inside for the supporting Cranswick to crash over.

Five minutes later, from a scrum in their own half, the Otliensians backs made light of the conditions and swiftly moved the ball to left winger Connor Bateman, who raced 60 metres, leaving two defenders in his wake.

As the home full back covered across, Bateman's pass did not go to hand, but No 8 Matthew Taylor gathered the ball from the floor and strolled over for a second try to make it 10-0.

From the resulting kick-off, the home pack exerted pressure on the visitors' line as they conceded a series of five-metre scrums and penalties.

However, a masterful tactical change from Otliensians coach John Walker to introduce debutant front-row forward Joel Wakeford solidified the scrum, meaning that there was no further score before half-time.

With only five minutes gone in the second half, Bateman had to leave the field with an injury, Luke Cowdell moving into the backs and front-row forward Ross Nichols returning in the second row.

Five minutes later, Cowdell gathered a clearance kick in his own half and made 20 metres before setting up a ruck, the ball being moved quickly down the backs for Oliver Eaves to score an excellent team try in the corner, Cowdell kicking a superb conversion from the touchline to make it 17-0.

Stocksbridge continued to throw everything they had at Otliensians, only to be repelled time and time again.

Six minutes into injury time, Otliensians were awarded a scrum in the opposition half, the ball quickly being moved to fly half Kristian Keinhorst, whose deft chip over the defence gave centre Eaves the chance for their fourth try and a bonus point, Cowdell adding the extras for a 24-0 victory that sealed their first win at Stocksbridge.