OTLIENSIANS.........28

HULLENSIANS......13

WITH Dawson injured against Skipton, David Smith resumed the full-back berth for Otliensians and Peter Gillson came in at stand-off. Chris Bawden returned at centre and Adrian Fawell moved to left wing. Tony Twist resumed at prop and 'Mescher' Smith in the second row with Dave Roberts returning to No 8.

In the opening minutes an Hullensians interception following one of several good tackles in this period by Twist almost led to a try with a break half the length of the field. The Otliensians' cover was however soon deployed to close play down.

Nevertheless it was Hullensians who did open the scoring after ten minutes when following some good attacking play one of their backs seized the opportunity to drop a goal.

Within a few minutes another interception only 15 metres out opened up the line for him to stride over for an unconverted try and a lead of 8-0.

Otliensians had been producing the better possession and looked by far the most likely to score but lapses of concentration had been their undoing. They now buckled down to retrieving the situation and there was some good short driving close to the Hull line.

In the tight the home side were frequently pushing the visitors' eight off the ball and when after 20 minutes they were awarded a five metre scrum out on the right, they took full advantage of their superior scrummaging.

Dave Roberts controlling the ball superbly at No 8 got the touchdown to pull five points back.

A few minutes later Will Haines went over out on the right but the pass was deemed forward and then Twist took one of his quick penalties to drive low over the line and get what looked a perfectly legitimate touchdown only to have it disallowed.

Otliensians continued to look the side most likely to score and five minutes before half-time they did just that when Adie Crossfield powered over from good forward possession. Half-time saw Otliensians leading 10-8.

Otliensians had dominated the first-half but lapses of concentration had kept Hull in the game. This continued for five minutes into the second-half when a poor pass back in defence led to a kick out of the home dead ball area being charged down and Hull getting their hands to the ball first for the touchdown to put them 13-10 in the lead.

Otliensians had been trying to play the game at a hundred miles an hour when all they needed to do was slow the tempo down and go back to basics. A penalty by Haines drew them level and then on 60 minutes their powerful forward play led to skipper Richard Smith, well supported by others, getting a touchdown well out to the right to regain the lead at 18-13. The conversion attempt only just failed.

At this point Simon Dykes was brought on for Roberts who had worked ceaselessly and had reaped his reward with a good try. Otliensians were now doing most of the attacking and were not making the same mistakes as earlier.

Bawden, taking up from where he left off earlier in the season, was making some powerful runs. Fawell showed great awareness with a good kick slicing the Hull defence. He got to the touchdown first to score an excellent try. This was converted by Haines who added a penalty to seal Hull's fate.

Andy Hayward was brought on with Gillson being given a run at scrum-half. In the end this was a comfortable win but at times their lack of awareness and concentration had let Hullensians into the game.

l Today, Thursday, an Otliensians party travels to Holland to play old friends, the Smugglers at IJmuiden on Saturday and Haarlem on Sunday.

An A XV will visit West Park Bramhope for a 3 pm kick-off.

Hullensians............46

Otliensians A...........7

Otliensians A travelled to Hullensians with a plethora of front row players, one of whom, Andy Rayner taking up the srcum-half role.

With a player short and with two other forwards in the threequarters, the game was always was always going to be difficult for the visitors but the Otliensians competed really well in all phases. However, the bigger Hullensians side adopted a sensible game plan

and used their manpower advantage to good effect.

In the first-half Billy Rayner in his new role, scored a try from short range which Mattie Tenniswood converted but the Otliensians came under steady pressure and were 7-22 adrift at half-time, Hullensians scoring three tries, two conversions and a penalty.

Darren Hardie worked hard to win some good line-out ball and the visitors were not over powered significantly in the scrums, however, Otliensians tired badly late in the game as they sought to close down the advantage of the home side who were able to steadily increase their lead. In a hard-working side, Rayner and Richard Paley at hooker were outstanding.

Otliensians B..............17

Roundhegians X B.....13

It was clear from the outset that Roundhegians were a big strong-running side and in the first few minutes Otliensians withstood several attacks through good tackling by skipper Peter Tempest, Tony Hudson and Matt Dykes. An infringement in the home 22 saw the visitors take the lead with a penalty.

As Otliensians began to settle down and use good ball from the line-out supplied by Dykes and David Whittingham, they were able to go onto the offensive with some telling half-breaks by Steve Hammond with good backing up from Jason Willacy and Paddy Wilkinson.

From a ruck near the visitor's line, Matt Dykes jinked his way past three defenders to score near the posts. Mick Lawrence converted to give Otliensians a 7-3 advantage. Roundhegians responded swiftly with a series of sweeping back moves and despite brave defence by Luke Bodkin and Mick Lawrence, an overlap enabled their winger to round the cover and score, the conversion leaving the home side trailing 10 -7 at the break.

Against the big Roundhegians' pack scrums were strongly contested but the front row of Andrew Walton, Roger Whitworth and Paul Gillson managed to get their share of ball. Tempest and Hammond made good breaks but a score would not come. A penalty increased Roundhegians' lead to 13-7.

The home side responded positively and some good forceful runs by Jason Willacy, Andrew Walton and Paul Gillson almost produced a try. Roundhegians were now under pressure and from a scrum near their line, young scrum-half Richard Ward darted over for an excellent try. Mick Lawrence's conversion gave Otliensians a slender one point lead.

The last ten minutes were fairly even but the home side had slightly the better of these. Roundhegians were caught off-side and Lawrence increased the lead to 17-13 with a well-struck penalty in the closing minutes.

Otliensians' spirit and determination not to lose saw them through a very enjoyable game.