Chaplin's kicking earns Old Otliensians victory

League rugby returned on Saturday when the Old Otliensians entertained Old Modernians. Both sides were looking for vital points to push them up the league table away from the relegation zone.

A scrappy encounter ensued with players on both sides making many enforced errors.

Mods certainly settled into the early play more quickly than their hosts and immediately went 3-0 ahead from a penalty when the Chaffers Field side were caught off-side.

Mods continued to dominate both possession and territory for the next half hour but the Otliensians' defence stood firm, frustrating the visitors to such an extent that it was apparent the tide could be on the turn.

Eventually Ian Chaplin, with some astute kicking put Otliensians into Mods' territory and when the powerful home pack secured good possession, the home backs cut loose.

Firstly Rob Wilks went close on the left before Adi Fawell and Peter Gillson put Jonathan Woods in with a chance.

He seemed to be surrounded by two or three defenders but somehow squirmed his way out of the grasp of the tacklers to run in a brilliant try to help put Otliensians into the lead for the first time.

However, within minutes Modern-ians were stung back into action, responding with an excellent try from powerful loose play by their pack.

A series of driving mauls disrupted Otliensians' defence allowing the Mods' No 4 to drive over in the left corner.

Otliensians' pack responded with determination and aggressive running from Andrew Bush, Paul Deeley and Richard Crossley helped the home side regain the upper hand.

The visitors were now tiring up front and the Mods' forwards seemed to be finding every scrum a nightmare, being pushed back at will by the strong Otliensians' tight five.

A scrum close to the visitors' line was so badly disrupted that the ball popped out at the back and the Mods' forwards were at sixes and sevens, allowing Matthew Birch to dive on the loose ball and claim his first try in some three years!

Rightly so, he was delighted, helping secure a 14-8 half-time lead for the home side.

The second-half was an even more scrappy affair with both sides looking to play expansive rugby but a combination of solid tackling and poor handling by both teams meant no further tries were scored.

It was left to Fawell, Otliensians' captain, to drive his side deep into the visitors' territory allowing home pressure to force Mods into further infringements.

Chaplin was in fine kicking form, striking over two long range penalties to give the Otley side a welcome victory and the much needed two points to stretch the gap between the bottom sides and themselves.

l On Saturday both the first and second teams travel to Hessle to continue to strive for success and respectability in Yorkshire rugby. Players are reminded that Tuesday night training will take place in Prince Henry's Grammar School Sports Hall, 7.30pm until 8.30 pm, for the next few weeks.

Modernians A 3

Otliensians A 10

Visiting Modernians, Otliensians seconds played downhill on a fairly solid pitch and included a number of youngsters in the line up namely Tim Rushfirth on the wing, Jonathan Sykes at centre, Andy Allman at No 8 and Jonathan Saunders at No 6.

The visitors exerted good early pressure with Allman and skipper Pete Tempest at scrum half prominent.

Alan Harker and Roy Appleyard won good ball from the line-out and Simon Coxon, returning after several weeks absence, was a steadying influence at fly half.

After 25 minutes Rushfirth chipped ahead and Sykes followed up well to score to give the visitors a 5-0 lead at the break.

In the second-half Jamie Lawson replaced Saunders in the back row and Modernians exerted strong pressure from the outset.

Excellent defence from the three-quarters, back row and Tempest, kept the line intact but ten minutes into the half, Modernians reduced the lead with a penalty goal.

Collum Hanogue replaced Rushfirth on the wing and Otliensians spent an extended period camped on their own line.

Pressure was relieved with a good forward drive, Andy Rayner and Appleyard being well to the fore.

Otliensians came more into the game and applied pressure to the home side line. Coxon made good ground and the ball went to winger Hanogue who scored wide out. Modernians hit back immediately but the visitors' defence was sound and in the final quarter, Ian Hopgood was dragged down five metres short after a good run and Steve Lofthouse also went close.

A sound victory for Otliensians and a good team effort well led by skipper Tempest.