Old Otliensians 17 Wensleydale 42

OLD Otliensians’ mounting injury list is beginning to hurt with struggling Wensleydale inflicting a heavy defeat on their weakened line up.

Facing the breeze, 'Ensians defended well as the visitors dominated possession through their heavier pack and solid line-out.

The home side were encouraged to be only 3-0 down to a solitary penalty at half-time, but Wensleydale turned the screw in the closing stages of the first half by running in three tries.

They turned the screw after the break with four further tries and though the home side rallied with a try in the first half and two in the second, the result was a comprehensive victory for the visitors.

In the scrums the hosts were on the back foot as their lighter pack struggled and untidy slow ball meant that their backs made little progress against a well-organised Wensleydale defence.

Centre Luke Cowdell made a good break, but the final pass went astray. Good offloading and backing up by the visitors then took play into the home 22 where forward pressure produced two tries in four minutes as the lead stretched to 13-0.

In a rare incursion into opposition territory, 'Ensians worked the left flank and good support play put lock Matt Tenniswood over in the corner.

Just as things began to look a bit brighter, the hosts suffered another setback as leading try-scorer Connor Bateman was subject to an alleged “tip-tackle” which the referee failed to spot and which led to the full back having to leave the field with a serious shoulder injury. Connor Paley came on as an able deputy at full back.

Unfortunately, disorganised defence then allowed Wensleydale to come straight back with strong running and good offloading by both forwards and backs to run in another try to take their advantage to 18-5 as the half-time whistle went.

With the breeze in their favour, there was still some optimism that ‘Ensians might turn things round in the second half. The visitors had other ideas and, with their tails still up, they ran in three more tries on 44, 50 and 60 minutes with two conversions stretching their lead to 37-5.

Somewhat belatedly, ‘Ensians now sprang to life using good line-out ball from number eight Sam Featherstone and flanker Jack Wilkinson and the scrum steadied with replacement Ross Nichols making his presence felt.

Strong runs by centres Cowdell and Chris Westland took play into the visitors’ 22 where re-cycled ball was moved wide and again lock Tenniswood was on hand to go over wide out for his second try.

Speedy winger Will Howarth was put away on the left, but after rounding his opposite number the touch flag went up as he headed for the line. Enterprising play continued with Howarth on hand to nip through a gap to score. The conversion by fly half Will Cooper moved the score to 37-17.

The chance of a bonus points spurred on the home side, but penalty offences and wrong options allowed Wensleydale to take play into 'Ensians’ 22. As the hosts were running the ball out of defence, a dropped pass gave possession away producing more pressure on the home line.

To make things worse a yellow card was awarded for a high tackle and, as the defence re-grouped, the visitors ran in another try to take the final score to 42-17.