Leeds Modernians 13 Old Otliensians 24

SECOND-PLACED Old Otliensians knew from past experience that a trip over the Chevin to play their neighbours is never easy and they weren’t disappointed on this occasion.

The Yorkshire Three promotion chasers produced a mixed performance against a Mods side who simply refused to throw in the towel.

The chairman of Eccleshall, their opponents in next Saturday’s RFU National Vase semi-final, travelled up from Staffordshire to have a look at ‘Ensians facilities and to watch them in action in the second half.

He will have travelled back with mixed impressions as the visitors produced spells of good flowing rugby interspersed with sloppy handling and missed chances.

Mods’ pitch was soft underfoot and the visitors quickly took advantage of the slope through strong running from centres Luke Cowdell and Ollie Eaves.

Their lively back row of Paddy Phipps, Sam Featherstone and Joe Armitage were on hand to support the moves and they were soon applying pressure in the home 22.

The hosts managed to keep Otliensians at bay through long kicks from the trusty boot of their fly half. At this stage Otliensians lost powerful flanker Joe Armitage with an ankle injury with experienced No 8, Rob Arbuckle coming off the bench.

Scrums had been fairly even up until then, but at the next one near the home line, Mods must have wondered what hit them as their pack was demolished by a fierce drive and pushed backwards over the line.

A succession of scrums followed and, as Mods defended desperately, they conceded a series of penalties. Eventually, the referee’s patience gave out and he awarded a penalty try to give the visitors a 7- 0 lead after 34 minutes.

After the break with their scrum well on top, Otliensians again took the game to the hosts with scrum half Jacob Wragg and fly half Will Cooper spreading the ball wide at every opportunity.

After 50 minutes Cooper converted a penalty to extend the lead to 10- 0. Mods quickly responded with some strong running and support play. Their efforts were rewarded with a successful penalty.

Otliensians came back immediately with speedy play from their backs and there was good support from flankers Featherstone and Phipps as centre Cowdell cut through. A try looked certain, but a sound tackle stopped him as he tried to cut inside.

Once more the hosts were under pressure and this time they were trundled back over the line for Rob Arbuckle to touch down. The conversion by Cooper moved the score to 17-3 after 60 minutes.

A long clearance kick downfield from the hosts then took play into the visitors’ 22 where quick passing and a rare lapse in the visitors’ defence allowed them to score near the corner.

Good drives from prop Josh Dyson and locks Ali Campbell and Jack Smith put Otliensians on the front foot. Another pushover try looked to be on the cards, but when the ball popped out, scrum half Jacob Wragg scooped it up and dived over halfway out. The conversion by Cooper stretched the visitors’ lead to 24- 8.

With strong running and slick handling Mods then came back once more and a mix-up in defence allowed them to score a good try in the corner on 78 minutes

This was an uneven performance from ‘Ensians with some good spells of cohesive rugby alternating with suspect decision-making and indifferent handling. Their spirit and determination meant they came out on top.