Ossett 5 Vs 26 Burley

The first game back after the Christmas break is always going to be a tough one, over indulgence can slow even the fastest of players but with Ossett enjoying a hard-fought Overs Vs Unders game in the festive period and two good training sessions the week prior the team was ready to face a Burley team where the norm seems to be low scoring tight games with the last two being 3-3 and 22-17. Both were at Burley and Ossett were hoping home advantage would see them on top.

The Overs Vs Unders game meat the coaches had a better time with selection this week with 40+ players making themselves available. The week before Christmas had seen just 32 take to the field in Ossett shirts and as a club we all hope this trend continues.

Ossett started down the slight hill, playing towards the spectators new meeting place of the Old Vic pub, but it was Burley who started brighter with a changed 10 to the last meeting who almost straight away spotted a gap and with some missed tackles offloaded it to his winger who ran in the first try of the game.

Both teams played some good rugby and the game flowed end to end. Louis Dunbavin once again made himself known on the Burley players like he does every week and fan favourite Jonny Karadzic made strong inroads to the Burley back line while his partner in the centre, Shaun Abson, tackled well and stopped the strong running Burley centres. Burley got a couple more tries on the board before the break and Ossett had yet to reply.

With Ossett now going up the hill things looked better and Ossett spent most of the second half in the Burley half. Ossett lost Drury to a yellow card for ten minutes, as Burley also lost their 10 after some handbags were found on the pitch and exchanged.

Ossett’s lightest ever winger, Mark Fisher, found himself out wide with the ball and with only one man to beat found himself flicked into touch by the collar but no card issued to the offending Burley player and then Clinton North found himself on the receiving end of a yellow card for a lesser, but seen to be, high tackle. This was cheered greatly by Burleys travelling fans who he seemed to have endeared himself to. This was unfortunately changed to red straight away when not questioning or talking to the referee questioned the new ruling on high tackles, introduced on the 3rd January, to himself within earshot of the referee who carded him.

With Ossett now down a man and Ossett marching Burley down the field to their own try line it was only a matter of time before Burley scored again by sneaking around the side of a ruck on the Ossett five.

Ossett managed to finish the game off with a try when Danny Buckley went over in the corner. The last play of the game saw Ossett on the front foot and running it well but a misplaced kick saw the ball go into touch and the end of the game.

With Skipton away next week Ossett need to get back to their pre-Christmas form if they want to avoid the 55-0 drumming they received last time out at Sandylands.