Old Otliensians 17 Wensleydale 13

OTLIENSIANS kicked off the new year with a hard-earned win which keeps their Yorkshire Three promotion push on track.

Just like the early-season meeting between the two sides, Otliensians came out on top in a close-fought encounter.

Both sides hadn’t played for over a month due to frozen pitches and it was the visitors who seemed to settle first

Otliensians showed their intent by moving the ball wide at every opportunity, but sound first-up tackling by Wensleydale stifled their efforts.

The visitors went ahead with a penalty goal, but Otliensians responded in perfect style. A strong run from winger Connor Bateman was well supported by the back row of Paddy Phipps, Sam Featherstone and Joe Armitage before scrum half Rob Lofthouse scampered through for a try near the posts.

The conversion by fly half Will Cooper gave the hosts a 7-3 lead, but that was soon cut to a single point when they kicked a second penalty.

They missed a further penalty opportunity seven minutes later as the home side struggled to cope with their strong running and support play.

In the scrums, the home front row of Toby Keep, Tom Howard and Josh Dyson provided a sound platform for the home pack to exert pressure.

Good running by the backs took play into the visitors’ 22 and from a scrum 8 yards out, the pack drove the visitors backwards with No 8 Sam Featherstone skilfully controlling the ball over the line to touch down for the second try.

The visitors were quick to respond. They exerted pressure and the home side conceded a yellow card for slowing down the ball.

A very kickable penalty was spurned for a quick tap which produced a try halfway out. With the conversion, the visitors led 13-12 lead at half-time.

Otliensians enjoyed a larger share of the ball in the second half. The line-out functioned well through Sam Featherstone and lock Ali Campbell while half backs Lofthouse and Cooper spread the ball wide at every opportunity.

Unfortunately, the handling tended to be laboured with some passes going astray with the result that several opportunities went begging.

In an excellent ‘Ensians’ move which started with strong runs from centres Ollie Eaves, Nick Keinhorst and winger Nick Hesketh on the right, the ball was switched across field where lively replacement flanker Josh Smith took the final pass to go over in the corner

The conversion failed, but the hosts had re-taken the lead at 17-13. Wensleydale responded immediately with good support play between forwards and backs, but could not find away through the Otliensians defence.

With the clock ticking, the visitors took play deep into the 22 where they proceeded to batter away at the line, helped by a succession of penalties through over-eager defence.

The ball was switched left and then right and a winning score seemed inevitable. However, ‘Otliensians had other ideas and, through spirit and determination, the home defence held as the final whistle went.