Match Reports – 13th & 14th September

OTLEY 59 – SCUNTHORPE 8 

Scunthorpe travelled to Otleys Cross Green ground with 4 changes in the pack. Nick Syddall, Harkeran Sandu (making his 1st team debut at hooker), along with Arnold Oliver on debut also at No8 for the injured Ben Hyde and a return on the flank for Rory Rendall-Tyrell.  A change at 9 with Joey Mowbray coming in for Will Dark who reverted to the bench. A shuffle in the backs saw a return for Ethan Taylor at 10 with Ethan Heath Drury dropping back to full back. Changes on the bench Jack Murr, with Lewis Meyer and Harry Wright in for their debuts.

On a fine day the Greens kicked off into the cross slightly headwind with the sun in their eyes.

The Greens started well and were soon on the attack, and with only 5 mins gone had worked their way into the Otley half. A quick tap penalty by Joey Mowbray saw the Greens turn quick ruck ball and with some slick handling in the backs mange to get the ball into the hands of Lewis Talbot, who with some quick thinking chipped the ball over his opposite number and with the luck of the bounce scored a brilliant try in the corner. Otley 0 Scunthorpe 5. 5 mins

The Greens continued to attack and from a penalty from 5 metres out tried a Bridlington move to secure their second score, however the Otley pack had other ideas and stopped the move in its tracks and were awarded a scrum for the ball being held up. The Greens packed down and were driven back by the ferosity of the Otley 8, who were subsequently given a penalty. From this Otley cleared their lines and went on the attack.  From a line out in the Greens half Otley won a line out and played from side to side before  driving on to score a try by the Otley No.7 Sam Hodge. Converted by Daniel Reed. Otley 7 Scunthorpe 5 19 mins. 

Otley now were getting on top with their heavier pack and continued their driving play. A further line out for Otley saw them revert to a catch and drive for a 5 metre line out with hooker Tom Howard scoring the 1st of his tally of tries, again converted by Daniel Reed. Otley 14 Scunthorpe 5. 30 mins.

Play continued in the same vein with Otley using their forwards to batter against the Greens defence. A kick ahead by Scunthorpe fell into the hands of the Otley backs who kicked into the air with the sun in the Greens eyes, the ball hit the shoulder of the attempted catcher and bounced into the arms of the Otley No.12 Callum Trees who was following the kick and ran past the Greens defence to score a try this time the conversion was missed. Otley 19 Scunthorpe 5 30 mins.

The Greens started to get back into the game with some running rugby but a high tackle by Otley saw a penalty given in front of the posts. A kick was opted for and converted by Ethan Taylor. Otley 19 Scunthorpe 8 39 mins.

This is how the half ended. Otley 19 Scunthorpe 8 HT.

The second half saw the Greens receiving the ball and with play being held around the halfway with both teams doing their best gain ascendency. It eventually came to Otley to open the scoring in the second half. With driving play through the Otley forwards culminating in a try under the posts for the Otley hooker this converted by Daniel Reed. Otley 26 Scunthorpe 8 52 mins.

Otley scoring frequently with their forwards, first a penalty try from a 5 metre line out which saw captain Grant Elliot sent to the bin for the infringement.  Otley 33 Scunthorpe 8. 57 mins.

With the Greens now down to 14 men it was difficult for them to prevent the Otley pack scoring at will. A further 5 metre line out saw the now well rehearsed catch and drive and a third try for the hooker Tom Howard. Converted by Daniel Reed. Otley 40 Scunthorpe 8. 60 mins

With the Greens now well under the cosh Otley attacked mercilessly. Another 5 metre line out catch and drive saw the replacement hooker Jason Moss on debut cross the line for a further try again converted by Daniel Reed. Otley 47 Scunthorpe 8. 65 mins.

Even a returning Grant Elliot couldn’t stem the flow of Otley’s team now allowing their backs into the game, with their driving play tying in the now tiring Scunthorpe team saw firstly a try by No.11 Fynlay Hobson, converted by Daniel Reed. Otley 54 Scunthorpe 8 69 mins

Finally a try by full back Ben Dinsdale not converted 74 mins. Saw a full time score of Otley 59 Scunthorpe 8.

A throughly tough day at the office with the debutants and everybody else being shown how big a step up it is from level 5 rugby to level 4. All equipped themselves as best they could but a regroup and hopefully some returning players next week will see the Greens fortunes improve against Sheffield Tigers at home.

Match Report written by Graham Migdalski

MOM – Joey Mowbray

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