A LUKE Cowdell hat-trick aided in Old Otliensians advancing to the next round of the Yorkshire Silver Trophy as they proved too much for table toppers Baildon, beating them 27-13 at Chaffers Field.

The fourth-placed side gained much needed revenge over Baildon after losing 27-12 earlier this year in Yorkshire Three.

The victory puts the Otley side one step closer to the trophy which would accumulate in a chance to play in the National Vase final at Twickenham.

From the kick off, Baildon hit the game running, pinning the home side in their own 22, Ensians managed to retain the ball from a line out but the clearance was charged down by their lofty second row, to open the scoring.

The home side were then penalised for holding on in the maul, which Baildon took full advantage of to move eight points clear.

Cowdell was the star of the next score as he was unstoppable from 20 yards out with his eyes on the line, he crashed through three Baildon players to score and reduce the margin at the break.

Otliensians pressured the visitors for the rest of the half, with a nice break from Jay Walsh, and some good hands from Joe Ridgeway, little errors from the hosts, kept the score unchanged until half time.

To start the second period, Ensians kept the visitors pinned in their own half and their pressure was eventually rewarded.

Following a lovely weighted chip through from fly half Ollie Eaves was combined with quick thinking from Cowdell to read the play well and charge a Baildon kick down, scoring as a result to put the hosts ahead by two.

A great drive forward from Doug Elgar, culminated in the ball shipped down the line, only to see forward Rob Arbuckle pop up at outside centre, thrusting into the visitors 22.

The visitors were caught offside again which allowed Cowdell to kick for touch, giving the home side a line out on the five metre line.

Baildon couldn’t cope with the pressure and lost two players to the sin bin within minutes.

A free ball to Ensians, again from Baildon being off side, saw the ball speculatively flung wide and gathered by Cowdell.

Hat-trick in sight there was no stopping him, after converting his own try, the score stood at 17-8.

Cowdell's elation was diluted when he was penalised for an over zealous tackle, resulting in 10 minutes in the sin bin.

The missing man in the home side's defensive line gave Baildon just enough time and space to set their pacey outside centre on a trajectory into Ensians half, supported nicely by his left wing Baildon scored in the corner.

With only seven minutes left on the clock, both teams believed a win was in their sights, Olie Eaves kicked the ball deep into the opposition half taking play close to the 5m line.

Baildon retained the ball and tried to break, but Ensians tight defensive line pressured Baildon again into knocking on.

With a scrum 22m out, in front of the posts, captain Sam Featherstone knew their powerful scrum would force mistakes from Baildon, and a penalty was subsequently awarded.

This time all rounder Rob Lofthouse stepped up and slotted the ball through the sticks to add a further three points to his side's tally.

Eaves spotted space again in Baildon’s half and chipped over the top just in front of their full back.

With not enough time for Baildon to clear, Eaves charged down the attempted clearance kick, retained the ball and scored a converted try.

A well fought, closely contested game, but Ensians scrum was too powerful, giving the backs clean ball, tipping the balance in the end.

Old Otliensians face a tough trip to sixth-placed Osset on Saturday, while Baildon have what could be a league decider away at Knottingley.