Otliensians...13

Hullensians...6

OTLIENSIANS travelled to Hullensians for this crucial penultimate league game, knowing they had to defeat the team one place above them to stand a chance of surviving in Yorkshire League Two for next season.

The situation was not helped, on paper at least, by their having to field a completely different back line to the previous week. In the event the four replacements, Collins, Foster, Hayward and Matt Tenniswood, did all that was asked of them particularly in defence.

Added to this after just 12 minutes a bang to the head caused Phil Deyes to be replaced at wing forward by Marcus Drake.

This was not a pretty game. Torrential rain before the kick-off led to a very tacky surface and together with the relatively small pitch sweeping back movements were not frequently seen. Both sides played with a certain desperation and it was Hullensians who opened the scoring after 20 minutes when the Otliensians' front row was accused of dropping the scrum, Russell converted the penalty.

Otliensians' forwards worked hard but not always together. Whilst they frequently pushed the opposition off the ball in the tight they lacked cohesion in their loose play and the home side looked threatening at times.

Simon Coates, who was beginning to control the game, almost went over after some sustained pressure but it was Hullensians who scored next with another Russell penalty after 35 minutes.

Otliensians were to get a boost going into the break when David Smith, who had been kicking well out of hand, converted a penalty to pull three points back making it 3-6 at the break.

After a half-time pep talk from coach Hugh Gumbs Otliensians came out fighting, almost literally, when the opposition started to mix it. It was from a technical infringement, off-side, however that they were nearly punished when Russell just missed a very kickable penalty. Not so David Smith, five minutes later, he converted a good kick to bring his side level.

Veteran Coates was having an excellent game at stand-off kicking well when appropriate to pin the home side back and making thrustful runs and hard tackles.

These were not without punishment and he took his fair share of knocks, one of which looked as if it could have put him out of the game. The play was now getting very confrontational and with a lot at stake for both sides. However, with Otliensians seemingly more hungry the forwards continually applied pressure and after 20 minutes were rewarded. Following a free-kick close to the home line, skipper Andy Rockett as though the whole season could depend on it ( as well it might in the event) drove hard for the line and scored a well-deserved try. Dave Smith again did not let the side down striking the ball sweetly to put Otliensians seven points ahead.

The game deteriorated and both sides were lucky to keep their full complement on the park. Otliensians must learn to keep their discipline even when under provocation. The way Smith was kicking a certain three points were lost when a penalty was reversed in favour of the home side when Otliensians retaliated after first being awarded the penalty.

Conversion would have meant Hullensians having to score twice to win but being still only seven points clear one home score could have lost Otliensians a point and caused certain relegation.

Every Otliensians player worked very hard and it was apparent who really wanted to win the most. The defence was better than in recent weeks both by backs and forwards, the front five grafted ceaselessly and won the game up front whilst the back row covered more ground.

The backs tackled well and possession was controlled sensibly by Coates. David Smith deservedly won the Man-of-the-Match award from the opposition.

l On Saturday Otliensians play neighbours Otley Saracens on their ground (kick-off 3 pm).

Otliensians A........12

Hullensians A........41

DUE to last minute first team calls and injury, Otliensians second string lost five players, including four of their back division only a few hours before kick-off.

This meant back row forwards Peter Tempest and Dave Evans were drafted into the centre positions, Steve Lofthouse came in on the wing, Chris Hayward into the pack and experienced back Peter Gillson took on the fly-half role.

Exchanges were fairly even in the early stages but when Hull moved the ball to their strong-running backs they soon made inroads against an understandably disorganised Otliensians' defence.

After ten minutes the visitors opened the scoring with a penalty and in the next tenminutes they scored two tries through good support play by both forwards and backs. With one conversion, they had a 15 point advantage midway through the first-half.

In the set pieces Otliensians were doing reaonably well with the front row of Matthew Payne, Roger Whitworth and Dave Beardsley taking two balls against the head. In the line-out Roy Appleyard competed strongly against bigger opposition but possession tended to be scrappy.

After a series of good forward drives from the home side with Tony Hudson and Darren Hardie to the fore, quick ball was moved out to fly-half Peter Gillson on the visitors' '22' and he dummied his way through for an excellent try half-way out. The conversion attempt from Jamie Bannister narrowly failed.

Although the Otliensians' midfield defence became more organised, Hullensians were able to produce the vital overlap and they scored two more tries and a conversion to give them a 27-5 lead at the break.

At half-time Jason Willacy and Paul Kerby came on as replacements at flanker and on the wing respectively. Otliensians started the second period strongly and drove down to the Hull line from the kick-off. Once again quick ball from the ruck saw Peter Gillson weave his way through the defence to score under the posts and the conversion from Jamie Bannister lifted the home score to 12 with 27 to the visitors.

Encouraged by this, Otliensians continued to press for the next ten minutes but scoring chances were lost through poor handling or wrong options. Sadly for the home side hurried passing in midfield allowed the Hull centre to intercept and he ran 70 yards to score under the posts. The conversion increased the deficit to 22 points and this left Otliensians with a big task in the last 15 minutes.

After this setback, Otliensians were unable to sustain their vigorous second-half display and further scoring opportunities were few.

Hullensian's continued to attack strongly but firm tackling from Steve Lofthouse, Peter Tempest, Ollie Willis and Jamie Bannister kept them out.

In the closing minutes the tiring defence conceded a final try from the visitors and the conversion left the final score at 41-12 top Hullensians.

With several last minute changes and people playing out of position, this was a spirited performance from Otliensians with a final scoreline that tended to flatter the visitors.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.