Old Otliensians continue their winning form

With the top two teams entering the playoffs ‘Aire’ were certainly not going to relinquish their position without a fight, and with three consecutive wins under their belt, they were feeling confident.

In what turned out to be a fairly positive outcome for Ensians, Aireborough’s ‘forward-friendly’ narrow pitch was waterlogged, so the game had to be played at another available ground. For some reason Bradford and Bingley’s second team pitch was chosen, and the flat wide field suited ‘Ensians’ fast open play.

The first ten minutes were well matched, with both teams tackling everything that moved. From the start ‘Ensians dominated the scrums, and the first chance came with Hooker John Offer steeling the ball against the head on Aire’s 10m line.

Nr 8, Will Rigg picked up and charged for the line, but Aire tackled valiantly and won the ball back to clear their line. Winger Connor Bateman gathered the ball and charged back downfield, but lost the ball in the tackle. Aire’s winger cleverly gathered the loose ball and set off. Ensians were expecting the ref to blow for the knock on, but correctly he was playing advantage. Luckily young full back Spencer Wood was ‘awake’, and made a try saving tackle to dash Aireborough's hopes of opening the scoring.

Moments later there was an almost carbon copy; scrum won against the head, Riggy pick up, but again cut down yards short. This time prop Luke Exley was in support and was unstoppable from 1m out. Scoring the first of his two tries against his old club. Sadly centre Jake Bentley couldn’t add the extra two points.

From the restart, scrum half, Rob Lofthouse made a super break, to take play back into Aire’s half. From the ensuing maul, Jake Bentley found himself in possession 15m out. With Aire’s backs off side again, Bentley dummied his opposite man to part their defensive line beautifully. Sailing through for his first try under the posts. The simple conversion followed to open the lead to twelve, nil.

This weekend saw the coming of age of young player Alex Gillson. Making his first team debut only last month, he would have been forgiven for being daunted by such a physical side, but quite the opposite, he was in the middle of everything, mauling and tackling like he’d played with the seniors for years. Obviously inheriting the Gillson families’ mettle.

Alex’s older brother Noel, was pivotal in the next try. From a clean line out, flanker, Noel Gillson made his way for the line, smothered by a wall of burgundy shirts, he managed to pop the ball out to Luke Exley in support, who battered his way over, for his second try in the right corner. Again the conversion too testing for Bentley.

Now with a seventeen point lead Otliensians started to play with flair, taking advantage of every opportunity. From the restart Bentley gathered, and broke down the left wing with Will Howarth in support. Howarth continued the advance, skirting down the wing all the way to the try line, to score, but frustratingly play was taken back to the twenty two, as the lines man retrospectively decided he must have been in touch.

Undeterred by this minor set back, Ensians pressed on, and within minutes Bentley had the ball again and effortlessly split their defense, to create just the space he needed to score under the posts, giving himself an easy conversion to close the half at twenty four points to nil.

From the restart Otliensians continued their non stop attack. Harry Gillson this time, taking play back into Aireborough’s half, before passing out to winger Will Howarth who sped down the wing to score in the corner. Ten minutes into the half we saw a touch of brilliance from Jake Bentley who made a break down the right wing, knowing there was no space he deftly chipped over the defenders and caught the ball himself 10m down field, before passing to outside centre Harry Wales in support. Wales’s job was a simple dash to the line to score under the post, giving instigator, Bentley an easy two extra points.

With a 36-point lead coach Andy Hinchcliff, decided to make a few changes, and we saw veteran Rob Arbuckle come on for Luke Exley, and Will Cooper come on for Jake Bentley. Thirty minutes into the second half it was the turn of right wing Declan Jackson to be the centre of attention. After three consecutive breaks up the wing, he eventually broke through to score his only try of the day. The conversion unsuccessful.

Aireborough now started to look like they’d had enough, and when replacement scrum half Jack De Ath, broke down the left wing from the restart. they had to dig deep to stop yet another onslaught. Aire’s full back stoped De Ath 10m short of the line. Being isolated he was easily jackled, giving Aire chance to clear the ball into touch. Ensians responded with a quick line out, keeping the momentum and taking play back up to the twenty two meter line. Aire’ simply couldn’t hold back the pressure, and eventually centre Harry Wales spotted a gap and was through to score his second. This time winger Declan Jackson opted for a kick at goal, and successfully added the extras.

With only 5 minutes left of the match, Aire kicked long from the restart, Ensians gathered and fed out to Will Howarth who was still full of energy. Howarth’s sortie took play back into the danger zone for Aireborough, and after loosing their own line out the ball was spun down the Ensians back line, finishing back where it started with Will Howarth, who deservedly finished the move with a try in the left corner.

In the dying seconds of the match, Ensians’ concentration lapsed for just long enough to let Aireborough build up a head of steam, and in the last play of the game they managed to score an unconverted try in the corner, closing the game at 53-5.