WITH a three week hiatus due to waterlogged pitches across the North, Otliensians' squad were hungry for a return to action.

On the Friday before the match it was looking unlikely that Knaresborough were going to find a full 15, but all credit to them they managed to locate a few journeymen, who were prepared to don a foreign shirt, and bolster ‘Boro's numbers. Luckily for the home side, the players they found excelled in their roles, and made for a game that was far from the walkover we were all expecting.

Despite tenacious tackling from the home sides loose forwards, Otliensians opened the scoring in the corner, courtesy of right wing Connor Bateman.

Sadly the conversion was too far for the boot of Luke Cowdell. Knaresborough restarted with a long kick, that moments later gave Rob Lofthouse an opportunity to sneak down the blind side undetected. Ollie Eaves in close support, continued the charge up field, only to be tackled yards short of the try line. Luckily 'Lofty’ was only too happy to accept the pass back to secure another 5 points. Again the conversion unsuccessful.

The handling errors that frustrated several attacking moves in the first quarter of the game, thankfully diminished as the half progressed, and the tourists settled into their work. From the restart ‘Boro’ kicked back deep into ‘Ensians half. Successfully kept in play by Will Howarth, play moved back upfield with a carving run from winger Batemen. This time he couldn’t make it all the way, and found himself isolated in the clutches of several defenders. Luckily Cowdell was on hand to tidy up, and skirted diagonally across the pitch,confusing the defence. With a deft pop pass to players in support, hooker John Offer found himself in the right place to finish off the move and score. Thankfully Cowdell had now calibrated his kicking skills, and successfully converted the first of his, 6 of the day.

In the latter stages of the half ‘Ensians were awarded a penalty inside the oppositions ’22. A scrum was selected, and the fans sensed what was coming; And sure enough, a stable scrum gave number 8 Will Rigg a perfect opportunity to ‘pick and go’. Charging his way towards the try line, ball in one hand, the other outstretched to brush off potential tacklers like flies. Rigg crashed over to increase the lead. With another successful conversion, the half closed at 24’nill to the visitors.

From the restart the scoreboard started to tick over with a little more frequency. Further tries coming from Will Howarth, Ollie Eaves, Luke Exley, and a hat trick from Luke Cowdell. Knaresborough didn’t capitulate at any time during the match, and even scored two tries during the second half, in what was probably one of their better performances of the season.

This marks the eleventh win in a row for Otliensians, keeping them firmly at the top of the Yorkshire 4 league table. Moving into the new year however, things get a little more complicated, as we see the league table splitting into Yorkshire 4 South & Yorkshire 4 North. This experimental ‘hangover' from the post covid RFU reshuffle, will cause some anxiety amongst fans, fearing the current thirteen point lead could mean nothing, when we start afresh on 6th January against Nestle Rowntree away.