LAST Saturday Otliensians travelled to Yeadon’s Nunroyd Park, to face undefeated league leaders Aireborough.

Otliensians’ squad remained pretty similar to last week, with winger Will Howarth’s explosive pace opening the score line in the first few minutes. Inside centre Jake Bentley converting, to take the score to 7-0, with only five minutes played.

Aireborough seemed taken aback by the pace of the game. From the restart ‘ensians quickly found themselves in the home sides half again, with an attacking scrum in front of the posts. A well rehearsed move followed, with fly half Will Cooper chipping the ball through to be gathered by Jake Bentley running through at pace. Bentley successfully converted to give a 14 point lead.

Two tries down, and only twenty minutes played, Aireborough ‘woke up’. With a penalty just inside Otliensians half, Aireborough opted to kick to their ‘favourite’ northern corner of their sloping pitch. A successful line out, gave the forwards possession, and their prop bustled his way over to open the ‘account’ for the home team. Luckily, for the visitors, Aireborough's goal kicker wasn’t on form, and he missed the first of many possible conversions.

From the restart Aireborough kept the pressure on, and within minutes their scrum-half spotted a lofty pass and intercepted, to score under the posts. With a second failed conversion, this time off the cross bar, the home side were now only four points down, with plenty of the half left to play.

These two quick tries and a couple of questionable decisions, frustrated the visitors and sadly discipline started to wane. After conceding a series of penalties ‘ensians found themselves pinned in the northern corner again, facing an attacking line out. Once again Aireborough gathered well, and surrounded their second row, and drove the maul over the line.

With everything seemingly in their favour, Aireborough seized the momentum from the restart and quickly scored again to take the lead. Their first successful conversion saw the score close at half time at 14:22 in the home sides favour.

Now should have been the time for Otliensians to realise Aireboroughs forwards were too strong to drive through. It might be better to deprive them possession and use ‘ensians superior back line. ‘Easier said than done’ on a cramped pitch, where it seemed impossible to create the space.

Otliensians’ audible frustration in the second half cost them a lot of territory and eventually resulted in a yellow card, giving Aireborough the advantage they needed to increase their lead.

In the dying minutes of the game full back, Connor Bateman managed to find just enough space to open his stride and by the halfway line was at full speed. The home side couldn’t get near him. The try and conversion followed, to see the score close at 21-39.