Oltiensians 15 14 Ossett

Tries: Bonner & Peat
Conv: Drury 2

Player of year points
5 = Denty
4 = Blackburn
3 = S.Drury
2 = Rotchel
1 = Wray

Heartbreaking scenes at the end of the game as Ossett led 14-5 going into injury time and conceded two tries in 4 minutes to see a certain win ripped from them.

Otliensians have 8 straight wins in the league and were everyones favourites to take a 9th win against Ossett. However, off the back of two wins and some promising performances after a disappointing start to the season, Ossett were confident of causing an upset. Consistency in selection is still an issue with Holmes, Hall, Bell and Captain Wardy all absent. However the side were buoyed by the reintroduction of Young, Lister and Wray.

Otleinsians started the better and the first 10 minutes looked ominous. They looked to move the ball wide and bring into play their pacy three quarters and back three. Their endeavour was rewarded with a score in the corner from a well worked overlap.

This seemed to wake Ossett up who then dominated the next 65 minutes. Ossett battered away at Ensians defence. Dent, Wray, Shaw and Drury drove us on past the gain line and the rucking from Young and Blackburn inparticular was brutal and delivered quick ball. With Ensians now struggling in the scrum Ossett set up camp in their half. Numerous transgressions led to 3 tough but kickable penalties which were all missed. Despite the pressure Ossett went into half time 5-0 down. Ossett also had the man advantage after the Ensians 2nd row dangerously collapsed a maul that was travelling at speed in Ensians half.

Ossett continued in the same vein with Drury, Rotchel and Lister now absolutley dominant in the scrum. The upper hand was outlined when the Ensians prop asked in a rather pleading manner for a lineout when the choice was offered to the captain after a wonky lineout. It was the scrum that gave Ossett their first score when we drove over from a 5 yard scrum for Bonner to drop on it. Ensians lost ther 8 to the bin after a knee drop on Drury (although in his defence he looked like he slipped).

More pressure in the scrum led to a turnover and after several phases Jack Peat crashed over to make it 14-5. Ensinas looking for a foothold in the game played more pick and drive and looked to mix it up. Their 2nd row was pushing his luck and could have been sent off for numerous cheap shots. A brawl on the floor with Rotchel caused the game to be stopped just as Dent had run through with a clear run that would have taken it to 21-5. A comedy moment occured when the aggro 2nd row took off his illuminous pink scrum cap in an effort to disguise himself from the ref. He wasn't hard to spot as everytime there was a fight - he was in the middle of it!! He carried this on to the last minute with a sly punch on Jack Drury. He should feel a very lucky boy to have made it through the game without a red.

It seemed hard to see any way back for Ensians who were being outplayed in almost every department. The score remained the same until we reached injury time of which the ref said there would be 5 minutes. With injuries to Rocthel, Shaw and Dent the pack reshuffled. The changes just gave Ensians a glimmer of hope as from nowhere they turned their scrum around.

The comeback started with a try in the corner as Ensians threw caution to the wind to make it 14-10 with 3 minutes left. Ensians dropped the kick off and Ossett just needed to keep the ball. After such a dominant performance it was amazing that Ensains now took the opporuntiy to steal one against the head and drive the ball up to half way and into touch. Ossetts just needed to win the lineout but this was nicked and the ball was played wide for Ensians to score in the corner.

Fair play to them that they never gave up and nailed thier chances but so frustrating that we had two chances to win a set piece to win the game and we blew them both. Its these errors that make the difference and we have to be more clinical.

The positives are for 65-70 minutes we dominated the top team in the league on their patch. We were ferocious at the ruck and the ball carrying from Dent, Wray and Rotchel was superb. We are a new team and more inexperienced than in previous years and have to learn from these games. We have to work hard on set piece to make sure we can keep the ball in tight games and have a reliable lineout when it matters. Lets make sure we get to training and work on it.

I think the general consensus was a week off next week. The 2s have struggled for a 15 so some of the fringe players may get a call up - Clint will be in touch.

Sprott