Northallerton 34 Old Otliensians 10

HAVING put more than 70 points past the home side last October, there was hope that, even with a team seriously depleted through injury, Ensians might be in with a chance of a Yorkshire Three victory.

In the event, on their own pitch, the home pack proved too strong, with good support from their backs.

Their useful forwards put pressure on the visitors down the slope from the start and an early edge in the scrum produced an unconverted try in the Ensians 22 after seven minutes.

The visitors began to settle and good work by half-backs Rob Lofthouse and Will Cooper put centre Luke Cowdell away on a weaving run. Unfortunately, the final pass was lost in the tackle.

Winger Nick Keinhorst was replaced by Lewis Robinson as the visitors continued to press. On 24 minutes Cowdell again made a fine break and this time winger Connor Paley was on hand for the offload to go over in the corner.

The hosts then responded with pressure in the visitors’ half which produced a penalty on 29 minutes to regain the lead at 8-5, but this was followed up by a good break by visiting full back Alex Murphy. Northallerton infringed, but the penalty was wide.

However, Ensians regained possession after a bounce off the posts with the right winger being pulled down just short.

The hosts responded with some powerful drives to take play into the visitors’ 22 where they rumbled over through a rolling maul on 37 minutes, increasing their lead to 15-5 with the conversion.

From the restart, Ensians took play up field through good work from Alex Murphy and fly half Will Cooper. But well into extra time, the home side drove the ball into the home 22 for a well-worked try to stretch their lead to 22-5.

In the second half, Ensians took an opposition lineout but then lost the ball in a turnover, only to see it booted back into their own 22.

The trusty Northallerton scrum produced good ball to set up a series of trademark pick-and-drives for another try which, with the conversion, took their lead to 29-5.

Chris Westland came on at centre for Ensians’ Kristian Keinhorst, with Michael Groves replacing Ross Nichols in the pack.

When the hosts were caught offside, a kick by Will Cooper took play into the home 22. When Northallerton conceded another penalty, lively full back Alex Murphy snapped up the ball for a quick tap to dive over and reduce the deficit to 29-10 after 60 minutes.

The visitors suffered another setback when a clearance kick was charged down after 68 minutes, presenting the hosts with an unconverted try to extend their lead to 34-10.

Kristian Keinhorst came back on for Cowdell and helped set up another promising attack in the home 22, only to see the final pass knocked on just short of the line.

Ensians played well in patches but on many occasions the cohesion was missing, with chances going begging. The experienced home pack had the edge and the hosts knew how to make the most of the sloping pitch.