Otliensians pay penalty

HALIFAX VANDALS 11

THIS game was played in excellent conditions, if a little soft underfoot, and for once Otliensians started as selected.

The first quarter saw some good phases of play by both sides but some good movements by the home side were soon nullified by penalties given away and from one of which Vandals opened the scoring.

The visitors suffered a setback when their No 13 had to go off with what appeared a serious back injury 20 minutes into the game and the interruption took the momentum out of both sides' play.

A late tackle soon after gave Vandals their second score with a well struck penalty but shortly after following good pressure, Otliensians opened their scoring when awarded a penalty five yards out.

Tony Twist, with speedy presence of mind, took a quick tap vefore Vandals were ready and with a good low drive forced his way over for a try, the conversion just failing.

Shortly before half-time Richard Smith suffered a cut eye and a kick to the ear and was replaced by Peter Bonner. At half-time Otliensians trailed 11-5.

The second-half opened with a good spell for Otliensians during which Baldwin replaced Rayner in the front row.

The home side camped for the first 20 minutes in Vandals' half and in this spell with only six points difference victory looked well within their grasp. Some good possession from tight, rucks and mauls put the backs away on several occasions when a score seemed likely.

However, pressure could not be turned into points. Twice just when the home team's forcefulness looked likely to bring points two foolishly conceded penalties destroyed their momentum.

Gradually Halifax turned the pressure round and let off the hook, started to take play back into the Otliensian half. Indeed in the last ten minutes they camped virtyually in the Otliensians 25. Although the home side were still getting their fair share of possession they seemed obsessed with trying to run the ball out of defence. So doing they played into Vandals' hands and failed to pressure the visitors by playing the game in their opponents' half.

This was a frustrating game for Otliensians. A lot of good play seemed to be wasted. In the forwards, line-outs were a problem with the Vandals No 4 doing some good spoiling with his high jumping.

Otliensians, while not always supporting the man with the ball sufficiently closely, achieved some good ruck and maul ball. The backs had some good runs with Matt Tenniswood prominent and there was some excellent defensive work at times, particularly by Tim Swann who won Man-of-the-Match for his endeavours.

l On Saturday Otliensians are again at home in a league game, this time against the present leaders Dinnington to whom they were somewhat unlucky to lose away earlier in the season. A reversal would certainly help Otliensians' endeavours to avoid relegation and a good game is expected. Kick-off is at 3 pm.

Halifax Vandals A......12

Otliensians A..............12

After undergoing no fewer than eight changes Otliensians A arrived at a windswept Vandals pitch with only 14 players, including four teenagers. Nevertheless they set about the heavier Halifax side with vigour and enthusiasm under the leadership of former first teamer Peter Tempest.

Against the slope and a strong breeze the early exchanges were fairly even but Vandals were taken aback by the force of Otliensians' tackling. Tempest was always to the fore, well backed up by newcomer Garth Dodgshon and Matthew Payne. Michael Wilson and Roy Appleyard began to dominate the line-outs and half-backs Ollie Willis and Simon Coxon were able to get their backs moving. Michael Wilson made several battering runs well supported by Chris Myers and Derek Mott but the opposition defence managed to hold. Vandals also made several determined attacks but their big players were stopped by strong, low tackling.

After 30 minutes there was no score and then a good Otliensians move saw the ball passed across to centre Steve Hammond who slipped a pass to full-back Jamie Bannister who was coming through at pace and he sliced through the opposition to score an excellent try. Simon Coxon converted to make it 7-0.

This score spurred Vandals into a burst of activity and they scored a converted try after a good break by their young fly-half to level at 7-7 at half-time.

In the second-half fly-half Simon Coxon made good use of the breeze and slope to drive Vandals back with some long, searching kicks. Play was still fairly even with both sides attempting to move the ball about but good defence on both sides stifled any further scoring opportunities.

Eventually a shrewd kick from Coxon set up a line-out ten yards from the Vandals line and Garth Dodgshon collected to drive over for a first-class try. Coxon's conversion attempt missed narrowly.

Once again Vandals responded in determined fashion and after withstanding a series of drives from their big forwards Otliensians conceded a try wide out. The conversion attempt failed leaving the scores level at 12-12.

In the final quarter honours were just about even with some good defence from centres Steve Hammond and John Woods who were well supported by wingers Shane Moor and Steve Lofthouse. Peter Tempest was tireless in the loose, irritating the opposition by regularly stealing the ball in the tackle.

Both sides failed with penalty attempts leaving Otliensians' 14 men with a satisfying draw in a game played throughout in excellent spirit.

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