The last group game of the Yorkshire Vase saw Ossett travel to Sheffield Oaks. Ossett facing opposition from the league below and Oaks eager to take a scalp from the league above. A solid Ossett team was put out against an Oaks team who seem to have benefitted from the sad collapse of Rotherham Clifton earlier in the season.

Oaks started quickly and they started well and were quickly 10 – 0 up after two well worked tries. Ossett took a while to get into their stride after a period of knock on’s, penalties and indecision but an almighty speech delivered in the style only Clinton North can deliver saw Ossett perk up. Mark Stuart and Chris White started to dominate not only their own line out but Oaks as well and once within the Oaks 22 metre line were able catch and drive their way over the line. The first three tries scored by Rob Young, Dale Burnley and Ryan Fonquernie (who picked the right line second time around and touched down over the try line and not the five meter) all came from a White ball brought down to a receiver who set the C & D for the rest of the forwards to push over.

The second half saw Ossett going down the hill but once again Oaks started quicker and ran in their last try of the game. Ossett however came alive once again but much quicker than before and scored the last of the three push over tries. The forwards were setting good platforms for Ossett’s potent backs to work off. Jonny Karadzic (JK Snr) and Jason Kay (JK Jnr) ran riot. JK Snr running through the Oaks defence from a kick off and offloading to JK Jnr who ran the rest of the field to score the first of his two tires that afternoon. The Oaks kicker didn’t learn from the first go so once again dropped it on JK Snr who went the other way down the field and busted through the Oaks defence to offload to Mark Fisher who was unlucky not to score after being caught by the touch line. JK Snr finished the game off nicely, going over with the last play of the game with a jinking run down the middle. Dale Burnley once again put in a man of the match performance with his domination of the breakdown and strong open play running.

The centre pairing of Jack Drury and Shaun Abson didn’t let anyone pass and caused trouble for the Oaks defence and once again Danny Buckley was there at every breakdown and looking for the holes left around the flanks of the ruck for him to sneak through. John Hall was unlucky when making a break down the wing to get caught and ankle tapped by the Oaks winger. Andy Bell stepped up once again to control the play and linked up well with Buckley. Elliot Gierula also get special mention for playing the full game at prop and switching between the tight and loose head positions.

A strong second half showed what Ossett were capable of once their mind was on it, and the first showed what happens when it’s not. It’s Hessle at home next weekend which will no doubt ne another bruising encounter after a hard game next to the bridge earlier in the season.

Tries: J Kay 2, J Karadzic, R Young, D Burnley, R Fonquernie
Conversions: Drury 4

MOM Points: 5 – D Burnley, 4 – J Karadzic, 3 – J Kay, 2 – A Bell, 1 – J Drury