Otliensians on the back foot

Old Otliensians....0

Looking to do the double over Corinthians, Otliensians were on the back foot before the start of the game with late changes in the pack causing several players to be out of their usual positions.

They thus struggled in the first-half and were, unusually, pushed off the ball a number of times. Corinthians were very alert and quick around the park putting the Otliensians under pressure.

This resulted in a well-taken try after they stole the ball in mid-field and moved it swiftly along the backs to score near the posts.The try was duly converted.

The home side also disrupted the usually reliable Otliensians line-out ball and pressure in the tight resulted in scrum-half Peter Gillson having to cope with poor ball from all phases.

In the loose Otliensians' pick up and driving lacked its usual organisation and resulted in the ball carrier being isolated and turned over or penalised.

However, the score line was only 7-0 at the break and in the second- half the performance of Otliensians improved, particularly in the tight after Andy Rockett came on. They played in the Corinthians' half but could not string together enough cohesive play to fashion a score.

Corinthians hit back and converted a penalty opportunity which on the day really put the game out of the visitors' reach.

In a very disjointed display by the Otliensians both Richard Smiths in the second row tried hard and Brett Tenniswood covered well. Adie Fawell continued his run of good form and did well with limited opportunities. Unfortunately the team did not play together and paid the price.

Otliensians A..................35

Leeds Corinthians............7

Otliensians entertained Corinthians and were keen to reverse the result of early December when they lost 8-5 at Middleton.

Playing initially with 14 men Otliensians were soon on the attack but the early stages were really very scrappy with the visitors being penalised consistently for off-side and back-chat.

Mattie Tenniswood took advantage to convert one penalty and hit the post with another before he crossed the line but was unable to ground the ball after a good three-quarter move.

Exerting all the pressure but struggling to gain any measure of control Otliensians eventually began to co-ordinate line-out work. From a good clean take by Chris Hayward and smart play in mid-field by Simon Coates and Steve Hammond, stand-off Ian Lawrence scored wide out.

In the same period, skipper and scrum-half Fraser Ritson broke clear to feed Coates and then Lawrence was held up over the line. From the ensuing five metre scrum Lawrence scored his second try.

The visitors had little to offer but the home side failed to capitalise and poor handling cost several try scoring opportunities.

With a 13 points lead at the break the game was far from over but Otliensians were soon on the attack. Ritson broke from a scrum 15 metres out and Coates supporting fed Lee Stenton, who had come on at the break to bring the home side up to strength.

Stenton in turn fed Tony Collins who crashed over,Tenniswood converting. Soon afterwards, Tenniswood gathered a speculative kick ahead and passed to Stenton who chipped through for Tenniswood to gather 15 metres out.

Corinthians now rallied and the game became truly competitive for the last quarter but good defence kept them at bay. Trying to attack from deep in the half subsequently proved to be a mistake and Coates seized on a dropped pass and kicked through for Tenniswood to score his second try.

Corinthians continued to grow in confidence but the next score came from Elliott Dawson, giving a useful display at No 8, to score the sixth try after a tap penalty.

The visitors hit back immediately scoring a consolation seven points in the final minutes of the game. For Otliensians the work rate of Ritson and the tackling of Collins at wing forward were first class.

Leeds Corinthians B.....26

Otliensians B...............19

Due to last minute backwords, Otliensians arrived at Middleton with 13 players only to find that Corinthians could only muster five.

A visit by the Corinthians captain to a nearby bar produced six rugby league players who had just settled down to watch the Leeds/St Helens league semi-final.

During the uncertainty about whether a game would take place, Otliensians first XV 'borrowed' Jason Willacy to strengthen the bench squad and this left 12 players to face Corinthians' 11.

Playing against a stiff breeze, the visitors soon found themselves under pressure as it became clear that several of the opposition 'guests' were fast and talented players.

Strong tackling in midfield by Peter Tempest, Roy Appleyard and Andrew Bower stifled several early attacks but eventually good backing up produced a try for the home side near the posts.

The conversion failed, but soon afterwards Corinthians moved the ball out quickly to their winger who outpaced the cover to score a good try. The conversion meant that the visitors were 12 points behind after only ten minutes.

Otliensians' forwards now began to settle down and with Andrew Walton, Chris Ramage and Paddy Wilkinson foraging hard in the loose, they were able to mount several promising attacks through half backs Roy Aldrige and Andrew Bower.

In the line-outs Paul Gillson was managing to get his own ball as well as disrupting the oppositions. With Luke Bodkin and Paul Donnelly running hard on the wings, Otliensians put pressure on the home side but at the break they were still trailing 12-0.

With the breeze behind them, the visitors immediately went into the attack with some strong runs by prop Andrew Walton and second row Dave Colley, playing his first ever game of rugby.

Roy Aldridge was able to get the ball away and after Andrew Bower had made good ground, he fed to winger Paul Donnelly who dived over in the corner. The failed conversion left the visitors trailing by 12-5.

Otliensians now had their tails up and further good backing up by both forwards and backs sent second row Chris Ramage on a rampaging run to score near the posts taking two defenders with him.

The conversion by Roy Aldridge levelled the scores at twelve apiece.

The visitors continued to attack with centres Peter Tempest and Roy Appleyard always troubling the defence.

A break on the blind side by Tempest and good inter-play with Roy Aldridge produced a try for the skipper Tempest half way out. A good conversion by Aldridge put Otliensians ahead by 19-12.

Soon afterwards, centre Roy Appleyard had to leave the field with a leg injury which left the visitors more vulnerable to the speedy Corinthians backs.

With only ten minutes to go, the home side belatedly realised that through moving the ball wide to their very quick winger, they could pose problems for Otliensians' defence and when they managed to do this, the winger rounded the cover to score under the posts.

The conversion levelled the scores at 19 all but Corinthians now had the scent of victory and they managed to put their winger away again.

Although good tackles by Bower and full-back Andy Rayner halted the move, good backing up saw Corinthians score the decisive try in the closing minutes. The conversion made the final score 26-19 to the home side.

In a somewhat scrappy game, Otliensians showed real commitment with newcomer Dave Colley showing up well in his first game.

Memorial Seat

Before the game on Saturday, Celia Boswell presented the Club with an inscribed seat in memory of her husband Dave Boswell, a long standing member of the club who died last year.

At a short ceremony before the game, attended by many family and friends and club members, President Adrian Normanton and Tom Boswell highlighted the contribution Dave had made to the Otliensians and the pleasure he had had and given in being involved with the Club.

This Saturday, April 7, sees John Churchman's annual lunch-time get-together from 12.30 onwards at Chaffer's fields. Those who wish to attend should by now have informed John, but it may not be too late!

Please see the club-card for his telephone number.