Old Otliensians 29 Leeds Modernians 3

OTLIENSIANS consolidated their position at the top of Yorkshire Three with a determined performance at Chaffers Field.

Modernians utilised a bitterly-cold wind in the first half as they took the game to their hosts.

They enjoyed considerable territorial advantage but only managed to score one penalty goal as even found themselves 5-3 down at the break.

Sound defence by the hosts kept them at bay and the home front row of Paddy Phipps, John Offer and Josh Dyson caused big problems for the visitors in the scrums.

The only try of the opening half was a fine one. Rob Lofthouse and Ollie Eaves set their back line away up the left.

Centres Dom Oddy and Luke Cowdell made good ground before putting winger Nick Keinhorst into space.

A good offload saw the supporting Matt Taylor blast through two tackles to score a fine try half-way out.

With the wind in their favour in the second half, the home side quickly moved into the visitors’ territory with fly half Ollie Eaves and full back Will Cooper gaining ground with long diagonal kicks.

The visitors managed to get the ball into touch near their line, but from the subsequent line-out, flanker Joe Armitage forced his way over in the corner. Newcomer Nick Hesketh came on for Oddy in the centre and prop Toby Keep took over from Dyson.

With ‘Ensians’ line-out also working well through Sam Featherstone and locks Taylor and Jack Smith, the home side used the possession to continue to pile on the pressure.

Mods defended desperately, but the pressure told and a powerful drive took flanker Armitage over the line for his second try.

Using possession from their dominant scrum, number eight Rob Arbuckle picked up and drove over after 64 minutes for the bonus-point try with Will Cooper adding the conversion to lift the advantage to 22-3.

The home side went straight back into the attack and Arbuckle brushed aside defenders to go over for his second try, with the conversion by Cooper stretching the lead to 29-3.

This seemed to spur the visitors into action and through good interplay by both forwards and backs they took play up to the home 22 where they proceeded to batter the line for several minutes.

The home defence responded defiantly and, after some close calls, the ball was eventually cleared.