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Old Otliensians 12 Hessle 5

The home team started strongly with a series of forward drives with Peter Bonner taking the game in to the heart of the large and well-drilled Hessle forwards, recycling was crisp and Otliensians were rewarded with a close range penalty from Kristian Keinhorst to secure the 3-0 lead after only four minutes.

Hessle's mixture of former rugby union internationals, past and present rugby league players and imports from other clubs began to test the home side's resolve. However, once again well-rehearsed defensive structures proved equal to the early pressure and it was Otliensians who increased their lead with a further close range penalty after 13 minutes.

Hessle's forwards are a well-drilled unit and prompted by their experienced second row and No 8 began to use their pick and drive, together with well constructed mauls to attack the home eight for whom Rob Arbuckle, James Duggan, Grey and Simon Hill defended magnificently.

Hill produced one superb try-saving tackle in the left corner on the flying fullback who he held up over the line. Hessle were pressing through their backs but Lee O'Donnell produced his usual tackling stint in the centre and with Smith at the back directing operations the threats were negated.

Hessle continued to press and after 29 minutes the No 8 managed to drive his way over the line with his pack providing the ballast to narrow the gap to 6-5 but it was Otliensians who finished the half stronger with John Ratahi and Nick Keinhorst just failing with a flowing move.

The second-half started in much the same vein with Lyons and Chris Myers solid in the scrum and Markus Keinhorst taking his own line-out ball whilst disrupting the Hessle ball effectively.

From a line-out infringement Smith stepped up to increase the home lead to 9- 5 after 54 minutes. Tom O'Donnell came on as the impact player and produced a trademark marauding display that seemed to make some of the Hessle players extremely edgy as he mopped them up with big hits.

The Hessle team had not gone through the league season undefeated until this point without being recognised as a competent side and they again began to exert pressure through their forwards but the defining moments of the game came with a series of Otliensians' defensive line-outs where they smashed in to the rolling maul not allowing the Hessle forwards an inch.

They then switched to one of their other defensive strategies which allowed the away forwards to rumble over the line only to be penalised for the truck and trailer offence.

With Birch utilising the box kick to good effect and Jonathan Woods producing a good display in the art of the chase the pressure was relieved for a time before Hessle again began to come in to the ascendancy.

It was in defence of the line that home forwards Duggan and Bonner were sin- binned after 69 and 71 minutes respectively leaving Otliensians with only 13 men on the pitch. The heroic defence of the line continued and was alleviated by pressure defence and good hands.

At scrum time veteran Paley came on and two strikes against the head ensued as the home side camped on the Hessle line. They succumbed and Smith converted a further penalty after 79 minutes to confirm the win which was greeted with great joy by the large home contingent, who had witnessed another formidable display.

8:23am Thursday 3rd April 2008

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