Old Otliensians 14 Halifax Vandals 12

PROP Paddy Phipps scored a try four minutes from time and Kristian Keinhorst slotted the conversion as Otliensians won a tight Yorkshire Three contest at Chaffer's Field.

The visitors had been on the front foot for much of the second half thanks largely to their powerful pack and Otliensians were relieved to snatch victory.

The hosts took to the field without their skipper Sam Featherstone through illness and had four other regular first teamers missing through injury.

The Vandals set out their stall from the word go with strong drives from their forwards and the home eight had to battle hard to contain them.

Former first teamer Matt Tenniswood returned to the home pack after an absence of several years to help fill the gaps and Ross Nichols took on the number eight role.

The scrums started off well for the hosts, but gradually the front row of Michael Groves, Jim Dyson and

Phipps began to struggle against heavier opponents, giving scrum half Rob Lofthouse a hard time.

The opening score came from Otliensians. Fly half Kristian Keinhorst was quick to dive on a chip ahead in the Vandals' half before feeding the ball into midfield where flanker Ollie Cooper was backing up to run in under the posts.

The conversion by Keinhorst gave the home side a 7-0 lead.

Otliensians continued to press with Lofthouse and Keinhorst bringing their backs in to game and winger Connor Bateman was pulled down yards short.

The visitors then used their abundance of possession to mount a series of drives which tested the home defence for long periods.

Locks Tenniswood and Jack Smith along with flankers Jack Wilkinson and Cooper led the strong-tackling resistance. There were several close calls and penalties as the Vandals camped on the line, but eventually the defence cracked and they drove over for a converted try after 26 minutes to level at 7-7.

The Halifax side continued to dominate possession and territory and only resolute defence kept them out. After the visitors failed with a penalty attempt, Otliensians came back into the game and used their limited possession to make good ground down the left flank.

Full back Will Cooper showed his pace and skills with a 30-yard run only to see the supporting winger Bateman bundled into touch as the half-time whistle went.

Newcomer Toby Keep joined the front row to help shore up the scrum in the second half, but it was only a matter of time before Vandals managed to force their way through and capitalise on their forward play.

Luckily for Otliensians as it turned out, the second try was not converted as Vandals went 12-7 up.

The home line-out had functioned well through Michael Groves, Jack Wilkinson and Jack Smith and with this limited amount of clean possession, they began to pressure Vandals.

Centres Ieuan Cranswick and Chris Westland made good ground and lively prop Phipps and flankers Wilkinson and Cooper were on hand to lend support.

After a spell of pressure in the Vandals 22, Phipps spotted a gap to cut through in style from 15 yards. Keinhorst slotted the conversion and that was almost that.

Vandals had a late penalty shot at goal which could have won the game but it missed the target.