General
Otliensians secure promotion
Old Modernians 9
Old Otliensians 22
Old Otliensians secured promotion on Saturday with a well-earned victory in the rain and mud of fierce local rivals Old Modernians, despite have many players unavailable, and securing the services of the oldest subs bench on record.
Otliensians started ferociously from the kick-off driving their opponents first to the left, then sweeping them to the right over seven phases, before stand-off Foster scored the try after just 90 seconds, the conversion giving the perfect start.
The conditions were already dire, and the home side replied after four minutes with a well-taken penalty following what can only be described as mystery infringements, which were to frustrate and plague both sides throughout the entire game.
Otliensians' forwards were in the ascendancy, and lock Tom Woods
charged down a kick near the home line to register the second try after just 11
minutes.
Then followed a real slog in the mud, with Otliensians using their forward patterns and good running lines in the backs to penetrate, whilst Modernians utilised the kicking game of their stand-off, who converted long range penalties after 34 minutes and in the fifth minute of added time at the interval for a narrow 12-9 Otliensians lead at the break.
Playing up the slope in the second-half Otliensians' full-back Kristian Keinhorst kicked the relieving penalty after 52 minutes before following Foster on to the sidelines with yet another injury.
Otliensians know how to starve the opposition of possession in atrocious conditions and this day was no different with the pick and drive sapping the energy of the Modernians' defenders and astute kicking penning the home team in their own half.
The third Otliensians' try was scored when Walker, who had come off the bench to stand-off, hoisted a high crossfield kick which was fumbled by the defence for Hill to score near the left hand corner in the ensuing confusion.
With Walker adding the conversion the two points were secured in the 63rd minute with the celebrations beginning as soon as the final whistle was blown.
This game was a testament to the strength in depth of Otliensians, with Cooley and Chris Myers having good games, and Arbuckle, Hanogue, Bonner, Grey and the O'Donnell brothers showing remarkable defensive qualities when Modernians began to show a threat in the latter stages when they were forced to chase the game.
With four games remaining the goal is to now to take Hessle to their final game against Bramley in the pursuit of a potential first place. The next league fixture at home against the league leaders on March 29 will be a benchmark to measure how Otliensians have progressed during the season.
9:31am Thursday 20th March 2008
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