Otliensians unlucky to lose in Bradford Salem mudbath

Otliensians were unlucky to lose this closely fought Yorkshire Three match by a goal and two penalties to nil.

On a pitch with mud and surface water at the start and which inevitably churned up into a runny, muddy liquid, they in the main adopted the right tactics.

Some hard worked rolling mauls and defensive possession were used to make ground with some good kicking downfield.

Long kicks just infield were well followed up to put Salem under pressure and others found good trouches. Matt Tenniswood and Ian Chaplin in particular used the boot to good effect.

There was some good opening work by Rob Wilks on Otliensians' left but the initial advantage went to Salem with some strong rolling mauls and thrustful runs.

Ady Fawell had to bring off a try saving tackle to kill one break. Thereafter in the first-half play was mainly in midfield between the 22s with Otliensians coming increasingly more into the game.

Several Salem attacks were thwarted by some good tackling by Otliensians' defence. Dave Smith in the forwards and Rob Arbuckle in the backs snuffed out the home thrusts on particular occasions when danger lurked.

Salem however were not having it all their own way and Otliensians exerted their fair share of pressure with Andy Rockett unfortunate to have a try disallowed having been deemed to be held up although subsequently grounding the ball in what appeared to most to be a continuous movement.

Thereafter two possibly kickable penalties to Otliensians were passed over during a good pressure period in the Salem 22 in an endeavour to keep the momentum going.

The normally infallible Dalton missed two penalty attempts for Salem to leave the scores level at half-time at 0-0.

Unfortunately during the break Otliensians were forced into a change with scrum-half John James, who had an excellent half in very difficult conditions, in severe pain from shin splints.

Rockett moved to scrum-half with Richard Paley coming in as hooker. A little later coach Hugh Gumbs came on to replace Wilks to give more powerful thrust in the centre.

Players were virtually unrecognisable with muddy faces and the ball was like a piece of soap in greasy hands. Nevertheless both sides stuck at it and it was Salem who made the breakthrough.

They obtained forward possession close to the Otliensian line and for once the visitors' defence showed a chink to allow fly-half Jacobs to stride through from ten metres close to the posts to give Dalton an easy conversion.

Though disappointed Otliensians' heads did not go down and they fought hard to retaliate but to no avail.

A break by Salem looked like a certain try until some fine covering work by Brett Tenniswood stopped the attack.

A useful chip out of defence by Chaplin gave Rob Arbuckle chance to demonstrate his powerful running but two penalties by Dalton sealed the visitors' fate.

Brett Tenniswood and Dave Roberts contributed some useful line-out work in difficult conditions and Mattie Payne and Richard Smith were prominent in the forward thrusts but the whole side showed a grit and determination that belies their lowly league position. The tackle count was huge contributed to by everybody.

l On Saturday Otliensians visit league leaders Knottingley but they have no reason to be overawed. With the spirit and endeavour they are showing a win is not out of the question. Kick-off 3 pm.