Yorkshire Division Three: Halifax 14 Old Otliensians 31

ON A grey, damp day, ’Ensians travelled to a Halifax side who have yet to register a victory this season.

As sometimes happens, however, once the home side settled, they produced some quality rugby to bely their lowly position.

They withstood early pressure from the visitors and then, using the slope and the wind, spent much of the first half troubling 'Ensians in their 22 through the efforts of their useful pack, and took a 7-0 lead through some good work by their forwards.

The visitors saw little of the ball in the first half, but came out on top in the second period through their open style of play as the home side tired.

'Ensians opened brightly up the slope and pressured the hosts in their 22.

Young prop Dan McCabe was pulled down just short of the line after a good dummy and a break, and then half- backs Rob Lofthouse and Kristian Keinhorst moved the ball wide at every opportunity.

Unfortunately, resolute defence and poor handling meant that several moves came to nothing as the supply of ball started to dry up.

Skipper Sam Featherstone gave his usual sound performance in the line-outs, but in the scrums 'Ensians began to struggle as the heavier Halifax pack dominated.

Their strong-running No 8 set up several moves, with good support from his fly half, and suddenly the visitors found themselves on the back foot in their own 22.

They defended well for long periods, but were being pushed in the scrums, and scrum half Lofthouse had a torrid time dealing with untidy ball.

The home side were held up over the line, but after more pressure from their forwards, the No 8 drove through under the posts for a converted try on 34 minutes.

The visitors responded with some good driving play from hooker John Offer, lock Ross Nichols and flanker Jack Wilkinson, and their backs got away up the slope.

Centre Chris Westland made good ground and winger Conor Bateman went close, but the home defence held as the whistle went for half-time.

At the break, Rob Arbuckle came on in the forwards to add his experience, and immediately the visitors’ scrum steadied, enabling the speedy 'Ensians backs to show their paces.

A good run down the right by Bateman was backed up by prop Paddy Phipps and Featherstone and, after good off-loading by forwards and backs, flanker Luke Cowdell cut through to score halfway out on 50 minutes.

Although the conversion failed, the visitors were now very much back in the game at 7-5, and from the re-start their backs swept downfield as the home defence struggled.

Again Bateman was on hand to weave his way through to score under the posts, his conversion giving the visitors a 12-7 lead on 55 minutes.

Old Otliensians, via their pacy, slick handling backs, began to dominate.

The bustling Arbuckle and lock Stuart Wright put McCabe over near the posts on 62 minutes, and Bateman was rewarded with his second try as he swerved his way through from 30 metres two minutes later, Bateman converting one to make it 24-7.

But the visitors then took their foot off the pedal as a penalty took Halifax on a rare visit into their half, where another penalty was quickly tapped, allowing the home side to run through a disorganised defence to score near the posts, with the conversion making it 24-14 with eight minutes left.

However,' Ensians then woke up and went back on the attack where, after pressure in the home 22, Featherstone was rewarded with a try as he dashed through under the posts on 76 minutes to make it 31-14.

This was a welcome bonus-point win for 'Ensians, but there will be concern at the shortage of ball in the first half and the chances missed through indifferent handling during various promising attacking moves.