AFTER a enforced lay-off which lasted a number of weeks, due to inclement weather, Ensians were downed 24-14 against a powerful Harrogate Pythons in Yorkshire Three.

Kicking off with the wind in their favour, sixth side Otliensians forwards soon found themselves tested in the set scrummage by Harrogate’s strong pack, and it is to their great credit that they kept that area of play evenly balanced throughout the match.

The first 20 minutes of the game were marred by the number of penalties conceded by the home side, from which the fourth-placed team took nine points.

On the half-hour mark, Ensians went further behind, when Harrogate turned another penalty into an unconverted try.

But then the tide turned and the hosts seemed to finally wake up. Luke Cowdell made his way brilliantly through the Harrogate defence to score a try under the posts which was converted by Conner Bateman.

That was not the fullback’s last contribution to the score as almost straight from the restart, a line-out was stolen by Kieran Walker and Bateman finished the move along the backs by scoring a great try to level the encounter 14-14 at the break.

Enjoying the wind in the second period, Harrogate pressed for more points, and it was only through desperate defending by the Ensian’s backs, during which Matthew Peattie was injured, that the Pythons were denied another try.

Lewis Exley came on as replacement winger, and was soon fronting-up to a number of the Harrogate forwards.

The continuous pressure on the home team always looked likely to yield a score, but it was unfortunate that one came from what appeared a harsh penalty. Cowdell knocked on whilst endeavouring to intercept a Harrogate pass, the penalty kick proved a formality.

Trailing by only three points, Ensians tried their hardest to achieve a home win which would have moved them above their opponents. Handling errors and the ball being blown off-line at a crucial line-out, diminished their chances.

With only minutes to go Harrogate intercepted a pass on their own 22 metre line and, despite the efforts of the home defence, they scored a run-away converted try to seal the victory.