Old Otliensians 25 Hemsworth 13

OTLIENSIANS maintained their push for promotion from Yorkshire Three by battling back from a 10 point deficit to record another valuable victory.

Hemsworth were certainly no pushovers and their heavy forwards took the initiative from the kick off and taking the lead with a second-minute penalty.

Otliensians worked hard to get back into the game with Sam Featherstone and Ali Campbell prominent in the line-outs while Josh Dyson and John Offer were to the fore in the mauls and rucks.

When the home team tried to get the backs working the visitors' defence held.

There was no further scoring until the 32nd minute when Hemsworth ground their way to within 10 metres of the home line for one of their forwards to crash through the defence for a try which was converted.

'Ensians came back strongly and after 38 minutes Will Cooper landed a penalty goal.

However with the last kick of the half the Hemsworth kicker scored a great penalty goal from 49 metres, the ball bouncing over from the top of the crossbar.

Otliensians began to get on top in the second half and made greater inroads into the Hemsworth defence with Toby Keep crashing through to make valuable yards.

The backs also found more room in which to work culminating in a fine 60-metre attack starting with a break by Olly Eaves who passed inside for Alex Murphy to beat the defence and score a lovely try which was converted by Will Cooper.

The game changed dramatically as the Hemsworth players began to tire.

With 10 minutes to go the home team won line-out ball 15 metres out and forced the visitors backwards with a superb drive.

With only about one metre to work in Jack Smith dived over for great unconverted try on the blind side to give the home team the lead for the first time.

Straight from the kick off Matt Taylor made a scorching run into the visitors' half. The ball was kicked ahead and the catcher caught in possession to take play back into the visitors' 22.

There was no stopping the home team and after 35 minutes a drive took play to the line where Smith crashed over for his second try.

This came as a result of 100% effort by the whole team and silenced the visitors' previously noisy players and crowd.

With two minutes to go the home team took a tap penalty on the halfway line. Will Cooper linked with Eaves who passed back to Will Cooper who flashed on to score a scintillating try to round off a fine performance.