Otliensians beat Tongans

Otley Tongans...3

TONGANS were due to play Otliensians Second XV but they agreed to play the first team to provide the entertainment for the players' re-union at Chaffers Field.

Considering the long periods of rain Chaffers Field was in excellent condition for this derby game.

Otliensians opened strongly but for ten minutes could not turn their pressure into tries. It did however lead to a penalty which was converted by Will Haines.

Eventually some good driving by the forwards, led by skipper Richard Smith, and quick delivery to support players gave Peter Gillson the opportunity to put Adie Crossfield away. The stand-off went over from 15 metres out with a powerful run.

Excellent work by Otliensians' back row with Mark Stevens putting in some fine tackling and Dave Roberts covering wide and strong helped snuff out the Tongan attacks. Tongans eventually mounted a number of attacks and when Otliensians strayed off-side under the posts James Henry kicked the penalty but he was just wide with a second to leave it 8-3 at half-time.

Otliensians opened the second-half with some fine driving play and inter-passing but found it difficult to penetrate the final few metres and Tongans held out well. Pressure only led to a penalty well converted by Haines.

This seemed to fire Tongans and their pressure put Otliensians on the back foot for a spell.

Otliensians overall were in command with some fine line-out ball particularly from Brett Tenniswood. Their strength in the tight often pushed the opposition off the ball.

They were gradually wearing them down in the loose with some hard driving. This led to Brett Tenniswood going over from ten metres, a try thoroughly deserved by the back row man for his consistent backing up and speed to the breakdown. Haines added the conversion points and Otliensians were now in the driving seat at 18-3.

A few minutes later a superb 30 metre break by Dave Smith including another of his outrageous dummies saw Haines take the outside pass and outstrip the defence to go over in the corner. Just on full time Haines converted a further penalty to make it 26-3.

In the end it was a convincing result for Otliensians with plenty of hard work from the pack and some powerful running by the backs ably linked by Peter Gillson at scrum-half, who is again approaching his best.

As play went into the last quarter Otley rallied but the Otliensians' defence was equally sound and as tempers were rising the referee had to sin bin a player from each side to calm things down.

Tongans worked hard with little quality possession but they had to admit that they were beaten by the better side on the day.

l On Easter Saturday Otliensians entertain second in the league Heath at Chaffers Field for their penultimate league match. Otliensians currenly lie in fifth position. It should be some game with Otliensians having beaten them on their own ground earlier in the season. All support welcome for a 3 pm kick-off.

Otley Viscounts..........10

Otliensians A..............30

Viscounts found that Otliensians' Second XV were a little too strong for them on the wide open spaces of Cross Green and the visitors were comfortable winners.

Viscounts kept going to the end and scored two tries through Mark Duxbury and Richard Clark.

Old Otliensians B........0

Cleckheaton...............19

With the Cleckheaton junior sides on tour to Prague Otliensians took on a side composed mainly of third team players augmented by some fourth XV members.

They had only lost one game this season and began strongly and confidently keeping Otliensians within their own half. The home side realised the strength of the opposition but pressure told and after 15 minutes the quick visitors threes outflanked the defence to score in the corner and the Cleckheaton stand-off converted.

Otliensians began to compete very well in the line-out with Paul Gillson winning some good ball and they were also able to put pressure on the visitors scrum. However, when the Cleckheaton backs ran the ball they always looked dangerous and only excellent tackling from the whole team kept them at bay.

Steve Hammond in the centre, Andy Cooper at full-back and Andy Walton at No 8 were particularly prominent. Eventually Otliensians were able to generate momentum in attacks of their own with half-backs Rob Ward and Andy Wells moving the ball well.

Late in the half Ward had to leave the field with an ankle injury and was replaced by Tony Hudson with Wells moving to scrum-half and Cooper to the fly-half spot.

A 7-0 deficit at the break was a good achievement but Cleckheaton began strongly and their speedy centre for once benefited from quick ball to score a try which was converted.

Wells equally adept at scrum-half set up some good positions with his astute kicks but penalty chances were not taken as the pack decided to take on the opposition.

Simon Wilson, Walton and Andy Rayner and skipper Paddy Wilkinson supported by the rest of the pack almost worked a score but the visitors won a good line- out ball on the Otliensians' 22 and quick hands saw the centre score.

A tremendous late effort from Otliensians saw Cooper setting up good driving mauls but again penalties were not taken as Otliensians sought to cross the line. Cooper was brought down inches short in one sortie.

The game ended with Otliensians on the attack and maintaining the spirited performance right to the end.

Skipper Wilkinson ably assisted by Cooper were well aware of the strength of the opposition and encouraged an excellent team effort from the outset.