Old Otliensians 19

Stanley Rodillians 0

OLD Otliensians were eager to continue to work hard to regain league form against visitors Stanley Rodillians, who had controversially halted the Otley club's unbeaten league run back in late October, 2004.

With Richard Paley taking over the captaincy from unavailable Richard Smith and Peter Tempest retaining his scrum half position after a tremendous game at Wetherby last Saturday, the Chaffers Field side were up for a real battle.

The first-half was a really tight affair with both sides cancelling out each other's attacks with solid defence and vigorous tackling. It was only an emphatic entry into the line from Dave Smith, the stalwart Otliensians' full back, that broke the deadlock.

A fine pick-up and drive from No 8 Rob Arbuckle, outside the Rodillians' 22, saw him unselfishly feed Tempest, whose perfectly timed pass to Smith saw the home side's No 15 scythe his way through the visitors' defence, to score wide out.

The second-half followed a similar pattern with both sides attacking flair being stifled out all too easily. But fortunately for the home side Otliensians' forwards were getting on top and dominating possession with Cooke to the fore, with darting powerful runs and drives. He was well supported by Peter Bonner, James Bush and Andrew Bower. Will Foster and Chris Biker were combining well in the centre and sending Johnathan Woods and Matthew Francis away at every opportunity.

These two flying wingers were proving to be a real thorn in the Rods' side and it was once again a magic piece of opportunism from Woods that led to the next score.

The Rods' side were throwing the ball around looking to level things, just inside their own half, when Woods pounced on a long, wild pass from their centre.

With hands like an eagle's claws he plucked the ball out of the air with ease; all this whilst travelling at full throttle.

There was no catching him as he streaked away and left the Rods' defence stunned and shaken. Foster converted and the lead stretched to 12 points.

The wind and hail arrived with ten minutes left and the visitors looked tired and jaded. But the home side had not finished, certainly top scorer Woods hadn't. His stand off Keinhorst put up a speculative kick deep towards the visitors' posts.

The ball skidded over the try line and was heading for the dead-ball line, and with three of the Rodillians' defenders surrounding the ball, each expecting the other to touch it down, up popped 'speedster' Woods to drive on the ball for his 13th try of the season.

His attitude of 'never give up the chase' is one that inspires the team from prop to full back and a lesson that should be remembered by all in the club's battle for promotion.

Baildon A 52

Otliensians A 22

Playing the second string of a club in Yorkshire Three was always going to be a difficult task but the visitors stuck to their task well in a game punctuated with snow showers.

Baildon also included some first team backs who held the key to the result since the forwards were reasonably well matched. For Otliensians scorers were prop Chris Myers, scrum half Andy Cauzer and Centre Tony Collins. Mattie Tenniswood converted two tries and kicked a penalty. The stars for Otliensians were Cauzer and Collins, the latter with his usual display of devastating tackling.

l On Saturday the first XV are scheduled to play Wakefield Cougars in the League at Chaffers Fields and will be looking for their third consecutive win. The second XV are at West Park Bramhope.