Baildon 40, Old Otliensians 0

There was no happy return to Baildon – on the pitch at least – for former player-coach Carlos Hassan.

The 39-year-old was part of an Old Otliensians side who battled gamely to the end but were nilled as the second-placed hosts put their bottom-of-the-table derby rivals firmly in their place.

The combination of rugby chairman Andy Whitley and head coach Dave Duxbury seems to have galvanised Baildon, who have always had talented players but have often lacked the commitment to make the most of that talent.

Duxbury, who replaced Hassan during the close season, said of his first impressions of Jenny Lane: “Was there enthusiasm? Yes. Was there organisation? No, but Andy Whitley is doing an awesome job.”

Victory in a pre-season tens tournament at Round-hegians certainly helped the Baildon cause, and Duxbury said: “That gave us the belief that we can play rugby and now we have won ten on the bounce, players are approaching us to ask if they can join, which is nice.

“We are trying to play rugby in the right areas of the pitch, and another good thing is that, except for Andy Pollard and Tom Craven, it is a very young side.

“I stated when I first came in the summer that I wanted promotion, and then that changed to mid-table stability and then back to promotion again.

“I always believe that you should play at the highest level that you can, and also we were able to put three teams out at the weekend, whereas before we couldn’t even get a second team out.”

Hassan, who was looking a trim 15st 10lb - “I have lost four and a half stone, and I haven’t been 15st 10lb since I signed for Bradford Bulls in 1995 - said: “I knew what to expect coming back to Jenny Lane.

“But we have lost three of our key players and a number of others have left since due to other commitments, such as work.

“However, Otliensians always put a strong side out and over the next two or three weeks we will get some of our stronger players back.

“It is a case of survival for us in this league this time around.”

Hassan added: “We beat Baildon at our place earlier in the season (their only win) but maybe Baildon trained more than us over Christmas and now we are having to play catch up as far as the table is concerned.

“We played well in patches but we have to try and extend those patches to 80 minutes.

“But we need player commitment at training on Tuesdays and Thursdays as you cannot build a game-plan or do meaningful exercises if there are only six or ten players present.”

As for his return to Jenny Lane, the Kiwi said: “I have been back a couple of times since I left and have kept in touch with the lads and it is a great place to come back to.”

Baildon played downhill first and went ahead in the eighth minute through a try by prop Pete Lowth, former England under-18 player Oliver Shaw adding two penalties and a conversion of centre Andy Patchett’s try just before the interval.

Leading 18-0 at half-time, the hosts added second-half tries by prop Adam Hewitt, who showed his strength and flexibility, and flanker Jon Picken, who ghosted into traffic and had the power to touch down.

Referee Ben Wood (Yorkshire Society) also awarded Baildon a penalty try, Shaw adding a penalty and two conversions.