OTLIENSIANS..................20

BRAMLEY PHOENIX......13

Otliensians won the Sulzer Aire-Wharfe Cup with a performance full of character. They scored a try, a drop goal and four penalties to a goal and two penalties in a tension laden match.

Trailing 3-13 at the interval Otliensians raised their game in the second-half and with superior fitness and team spirit gradually ground the visitors down to emerge deserved winners 20-13.

Otliensians had won both their earlier league games against Bramley and lost their Yorkshire Shield match narrowly but this was a much changed Bramley side with at least half a dozen new faces. They had obviously been recently introduced and seemed to bring more of a rugby league pattern into their style of play.

In perfect conditions at Chaffers Field Otliensians opened the scoring after only five minutes through a well-taken penalty by Will Haines well out on the left. Bramley replied when winger Hunter snatched possession on the right just inside Otliensians' half. He made a good break behind the main home defence and slipped the ball inside to Steve Barnett who ran the last 20 metres unopposed to go over. Cooper added the conversion in off the post.

Play was by no means going all Bramley's way. Richard 'Mescher' Smith in the line-out particularly was having probably his best game of the season with a number of catches against the throw while ably supported by skipper Richard Smith at the back of the line. They thus denied Bramley their fair share of possession from this phase.

Peter Gillson was having a fine game at scrum-half against Bramley's Dixon and Mark Stevens was unlucky not to go over.

Bramley's backs did look dangerous when they obtained possession although this was often slowed down by the foraging back row of Walton, Stevens and Roberts and the driving of the front five of Twist, Paley, Payne and the two Smiths.

Added to this, some good tackling and cover by Bachra, Bawden, Fawell and Dave Smith and in particular some crunching hits by Gumbs just kept Bramley contained.

Two penalties well converted by Cooper took Bramley in the driving seats. Dave Smith was defending well with some fine touch kicking relieving the Bramley threats and as half-time approached Otliensians exerted a good period of pressure themselves on the Bramley line.

Two short penalties in quick succession almost led to the breakthrough but the Bramley defence just managed to hold out. At half-time Bramley led 13-3.

The second-half opened with Otliensians determined to turn the tables. A neat chip by Gillson almost gave Dave Smith, following up well, the opportunity to go over. It was Haines through a penalty who put the next points on the board and closed the gap to seven points.

Fresh energy was infused with Baldwin and Brett Tenniswood replacing Payne and Stevens, both of whom had grafted unceasingly.

The forward dominance in the tight continued with the Bramley eight frequently pushed back and good line-out ball denied.

Otliensians' front row were really dishing it out and there were some hard drives by skipper Richard Smith.

A lot of the play was now in the Bramley half and pressure led to a further penalty by Haines immediately followed by a fine drop goal by Gumbs to bring the home side within one point with 12 minutes to go.

Bramley were just holding on. Otliensians were lasting the pace much better and were beginning to make the visitors look a spent force. Otliensians' pressure yielded a penalty with five minutes to go and an opportunity to go into the lead. A real pressure kick but Haines, as cool as ever, put the ball over.

Otliensians deservedly went into the lead but within two minutes they crowned their second-half dominance with a fine try. Typical forward pressure led to a drive at the line by Gumbs. Brought down just short he re-cycled to his supporting forwards who took on the drive an Andy Walton with huge determination got the glorious touchdown to seal the Bramley fate.

As with a lot of cup finals with so much at stake this was not the ost attractive rugby but for sheer tension and endeavour it was well worth watching.

Bramley's time wasting cynicism won them no friends and ironically turned against them when Otliensians went into the lead with only a few minutes to go.

For Otliensians the livliness of scrum-half Gillson, the tackling of Gumbs, the kicking and tackling of Dave Smith, the line-out work of 'Mescher' Smith and cool penalty kicking of Haines crowned by Walton's try were the highlights of this enjoyable end to a very satisfying season. Above all this was a team effort ably led by player-coach Hugh Gumbs and skipper Richard Smith and proved a fitting reward for a lot of hard work throughout the season by all concerned.

Players who contributed much to the cup run but did not get on the field for the final through injury or otherwise included Rockett, Hayward, Hardie, Coates, Stenton, Crossfield and Collins.