Aireborough......105

Wibsey....................0

AIREBOROUGH progressed to the second round of the Tetley Vase when they overwhelmed their meagre opposition at Nunroyd Park. Dominating all phases of the game they scored a total of 17 tries with ten conversions from scrum-half Glyn Jones.

It was a record score for Aireborough, their previous best being 98-0 over Bradford and Bingley in the Aire-Wharfe Cup. Aireborough can be well pleased with the discipline they maintained throughout the game but it is difficult to draw any conclusions from such a contest. Wibsey turned up with only 14 men and were then reduced to 13 when hooker Graham Larkin dislocated his collarbone.

Stand-off John Bottomley continued his impressive form also scoring three tries and full-back Paul Mackie hit top gear with regular incisions of pace into the line and he scored two tries.

Other tries came from Paul Exley (2), Tony Exley (2), James Williams (2), Mike Neild, Richard Leather, Dave Sockett, John Rhodes and Peter Booth.

Aireborough start their league season on Saturday when they entertain Rotherham Clifton with a 3 pm kick-off. This will be a key game in their league season and skipper Richard Leather is looking for as much touchline support as possible.

The selected team is - M Neild; D Sockett, P Booth, D Moyes, A Martucci; P Mackie, G Jones; D Greenwood, R Leather, T Baxter, R Fall, P Exley, M Hemsley, J Rhodes, T Exley. Repl. G Sellars, J Kinghgorn.

Baildon A.....................0

Dragons......................41

Aireborough's support team put in a hugely committed performance against their local rivals. With a good supply of possession Dragons' experienced back row forwards Steve Brewer anbd Steve Richings carved out the openings and their half-backs needed no further invitation as stand-off Phil Ineson scored twice followed by a touchdown from scrum-half Robert Leadbeater.

Flanker Paul Nightingale added two further tries to his side's tally as did debutant winger Matt Craven whose raw pace was too much for the opposition. Three well, struck conversions from Steve Brewer completed Dragons' scoring.

Wharfedale Thirds......29

Aireborough.................0

IN their opening game a weakened Aireborough competed well against strong opposition.

Holding their own in the forwards, where lock Richard Fall and back row Martin Hemsley were very effective, Aireborough created scoring opportunities which were not converted but this will no doubt improve as team cohesion increases.

John Bottomley had an impressive debut at stand-off with his choice of options bringing his backs into play wherever possible.

Dragons.....................5

Wharfedale .............46

At Nunroyd Park, Aireborough's support team hung on gamely against a very competent junior team. Conceding five tries in a first-half where they took time to settle and aided by some ineffective tackling, Dragons were up against it.

However, the introduction of stand-off Bob Barber and flanker Granville Sellars, together with the whole team raising their game, the tide was stemmed.

Lock Mark Robinson made a useful debut and seasoned hooker Nigel Craven rolled back the years with his support play. Full-back Denis Foley went forward at every opportunity .Bob Barber powered over for his side's try. Although struggling against the opposition backs, Dragons forward play held firm with lock Andy Wood making important catches in the line-outs.

Otliensians power to

Vase victory

OTLIENSIANS......55

MODERNIANS.......5

IN a hard-fought Tetley Bitter Vase first round match Otliensians eventually ground down Modernians at Chaffers Fields on Saturday.

After a first-half in which Mods played the better rugby and Otliensians scraped to a 7-5 lead the fit home side powered to an eight try second-half to completely demolish th e opposition.

Chris Bawden and Matt Tenniswood both grabbed hat-tricks.

There were two changes from the previous week. Lee Stenton was unavailable so Dave Smith reverted to his old position of full-back with veteran Simon Coates filling the stand-off position and Rob Arbuckle coming in at No 8 rotating with Dave Roberts, who began on the bench.

Mods opened strongly and whilst Otliensians dominated the tight and drove well, they gave far too much possesison away in the loose and could not control the game.

Nevertheless their defence held form until the 20th minute. Mods drove down the centre sucking in the defence and then spread the ball to the right. Otliensians tackled well but the Mods' ball handling and support play was just too much and they went over for a well-deserved try.

This seemed to wake up the home side and the forwards drove against a defence which held firm. Arbuckle went over but the whistle blew for a Mods' infringement.

Otliensians continued to press and eventuall.y got their reward through Bawden five minutes before half-time when the centre drove over from 15 metres, Dave Smith converting making it 7-5.

Roberts replaced Mark Stevens in the back row for the second-half. Otliensians forwards now dominated and sucked in the opposition. It was right wing Matt Tenniswood who opened the second-half scoring following good inter-passing and a driving run by brother Brett. Skipper Richard Smith and hooker Andy Rockett then put Otliensians into a decisive lead with drives and scores from five metres. Smith converted the second.

With only 15 minutes of the second-half gone Tenniswood scored the second of his tries, crossing in the corner after a good break by by Ady Fawell. The right winger followed this up with his third a few minutes later after a long break out of defence and a scoring pass from brother Brett. Smith added the conversion.

With slightly less than 15 minutes to go coach Hugh Gumbs cameinto the backs with Chris Bawden dropping back to full-back and Smith replacing Arbuckle in the back. Bawden scored next bursting into the line and scything through the now battered Mods' defence to score under the posts. Matt Tenniswood converted to make it 43-5.

Bawden completed his hat-trick with a try after the backs had outstretched the Mods' rearguard. Matt Tenniswood again added the two points.

With only a few minutes to go Andy Hayward got onto the scoresheet backing up a good break by skipper Richard Smith. This was a comprehensive victory. The line-out still needs more work with more possession being gained on the opposition throw than their own.

Again they were slow to get on top but their superior fitness and hardness was too much for the opposition.

It was a good all round team effort with the forwards, particularly the front five of Twist, Rockett, Rayner, Hardie and Smith gradually grinding down the opposition. This provided the base for strong running in the backs who then contributed seven of the nine tries.

l On Saturday Otliensians entertain local rivals Skipton in their second league game of the season. Kick-off 3 pm.

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

Otliensians A........27

Otliensians A took a depleted side to play Cleckheaton fourths due to late backwords they were two players short.

Far from being upset by this they gave an excellent all-round performance winning some good possession in all phases. The backs inspired by scrum-half Lee Coxon kept the home side under pressure. Tries were scored by Prepal Bachra, Lee Coxon (2), Simon Dykes, and Richard Paley. There was one conversion from Bachra.

l Below Aireborough's Dave Greenwood hustles Wibsey skipper Steve Rose.