Otliensians go down after a promising first-half

Otliensians enjoyed a good first-half at second-placed Hemsworth.They led 6-0 at the break with a drop goal and a penalty by fly-half Ian Chaplin.

The second-half was unfortunately a different story when the home side ran in four tries using their wide pitch to stretch the Otliensians' defence.

Following their resounding win against Wath the previous week Otliensians travelled to Hemsworth with a confident side and unchanged for the first time this season but well aware of the task ahead.

Both side s took time to settle down with mistakes littering the first ten minutes including a very kickable penalty missed by the home side.

Chaplin was one of the first to settle with some astute kicking out of hand crowned by a superb drop goal after 12 minutes.

Caught outside the Hemsworth 22 with nowhere to go and defenders right on top of him he dug out a sweetly struck kick that sailed between the posts.

Within two minutes the fly-half, with confidence high, had doubled the lead with a well-taken penalty from well outside the 22.

The Hemsworth pack were proving a more formidable outfit than Wath were the previous week and Otliensians' eight struggled for once in the tight, although this was offset by some successful line-out work by Brett Tenniswood and Dave Roberts who were contesting well.

Hemsworth were looking dangerous in their close in play but after a shaky start the visitors upped their tackle count with some hard work by Tony Collins, Dave Smith, Roberts and scrum-half Peter Gillson.

Otliensians opened the second-half strongly and almost scored when Peter Bonner drove hard for the line but was deemed just short with his touchdown.

It was Hemsworth however who opened their scoring shortly afterwards when they forced their way over on the right making the breakthrough due to missed tackles by Otliensians.

Although failing with the conversion they went into the lead after 15 minutes with a penalty for off-side in front of the posts.

Going into the last quarter of the game the home side began to use the width of their pitch and with their improved handling in the backs began stretching the Otliensian defence.

Although the visitors continued to work hard with strong tackling by Varo and Bawden, Hemsworth were now using their possession to greater effect. They breached the Otliensian rearguard to put their left winger over for three tries in the last 20 minutes, two being converted.

Tackles were made on each occasion but the ball was got away for the winger to go round the outside or cut inside to score, the last being well into injury time.

A disappointing result for Otliensians but put into perspective this was against a very well drilled side on their own pitch who are now top of the league after this victory.

l On Saturday Otliensians, out of the Yorkshire Shield and having no league fixture, have arranged a home game against an Ilkley XV at Chaffers Field, kick-off 2.15 pm.

Old Otliensians A 23

Bradford Salem 16

With Bradford Salem positioned second in the Merit Table Otliensians expected a difficult game but all the early pressure came from the home side. Two Otliensian penalty chances went adrift as both sides worked hard to establish an advantage.

The usually secure Otliensians line-out was functioning intermittently but the pack was working hard in the loose and tight with Chris Myers, Roy Appleyard and Richard Willoughby prominent.

After 18 minutes good scrum ball was moved quickly blind by half-backs Aidie Crossfield and Simon Coates and full-back Doug Jardine ran elusively from half way before passing to wing Steve Lofthouse who scored wide out.

The competitive Salem side hit back strongly and soon kicked a penalty goal but Otliensians ended the half on the attack to hold on to the 5-3 lead.

Salem attacked from the outset after the break and the home side were completely on the defensive.

The visitors soon scored an excellent try which was converted. Coates damaged a shoulder and in a re-shuffle Steve Wilson came on at No 8 with Roy Aldridge moving to scrum-half and Crossfield to fly-half. Salem sustained the pressure and increased the lead with two penalties and threatened to overrun Otliensians.

However, Wilson's presence in the pack vitalised the scrummaging and Salem buckled. After 23 minutes Wilson gained a touch down from a push over which was converted by Crossfield to reduce the arrears to 12-16.

Mark Copping, who was playing well in the second row, was replaced by Steve Montague after 30 minutes when Crossfield added a penalty to close the gap. Dave Beardsley, playing his first game for several months, was replaced by Andy Raynor and another coolly taken Crossfield penalty gave Otliensians a lead after 35 minutes.

A good back move saw Jonathan Woods put Stuart MacIlwraith in for a try which was disallowed but from the ensuing five metre scrummage Wilson picked up, drove for the line to score his second try and ensure a win for the Otliensians. This was an entertaining game of rugby with a good second-half team performance from Otliensians.

l The second team entertain Skipton on Saturday, kick-off 2.15 pm.