Otley Saracens were up against it

Otley Saracens played a re-arranged Merit Table game with Doncaster but were seriously weakened by the absence of a number of key players due to injury and non-availability and were always up against it.

Fielding a pack which included only one senior player, Steve Hudson, they were always struggling against a very big and experienced Doncaster eight. As a result the visitors dominated the set pieces to provide a constant stream of possession and despite some heroic tackling Doncaster had soon rattled up 20 points.

Saracens were playing with a lot of spirit in adversity but the backs were living off scraps. In a rare spell of pressure they showed what they could do when slick handling across the line saw Ryan Duckett race over for Simon Hawkins to convert.

They were further handicapped in the second- half with injuries to Steve Hudson and Andrew Tindall but the youngsters kept going to the end and Saracens should have had another score when debutant Brian Barnett got away on the wing, but in trying to get behind the posts for a seven-pointer, he stepped on the dead ball line. Whilst this was a comfortable win for the visitors all credit to the youngsters who never gave up and gained valuable experience.

Viscounts................5

Ripon Thirds..........19

Ripon opened strongly and scored two quick tries against sketchy tackling. Viscounts gradually got their game together and scored a good try when Chris Chilton made ground down the wing and when the ball was switched left he popped up again on the opposite wing to go over.

In the second-half Viscounts camped in the Ripon half but could not turn pressure into points and eventually the visitor's winger broke out to score the try that clinched victory mand brought Viscount's winning run to an end.

Sandal A............14 Tongans...............33

Tongans picked up a Pool fixture with Sandal second team, which is normally a Saracen's game and with several players not available approached the task with a little apprehension.

Skipper Nick Girling need not have worried as they rose to the occasion with an outstanding team performance. Playing down the slope Otley piled on the pressure and Richard Simpson picked up a loose ball to burst through and score, James Henry adding the conversion.

Sandal hit back to level and Tongans had to produce a number of last ditch tackles before breaking out to score a try which was worthy of any arena. Richard Simpson won a loose ball near the Otley line and with Sandal expecting a kick the ball was moved quickly across the backs and Tim Westlake-Bryant passed inside to Adrian Keeler, who raced over, Henry again converting.

Andy Edson added another when

he sold a couple of dummies and ghosted in near the posts. Grant Mitchell got Craig Jackson away and his speed did the rest. James Henry added both conversions to make it 28-7 at half-time.

Adrian Midgeley came on for the injured Andy Edson and his tackling skills were soon required as Sandal came at Otley strongly down the slope. Tongans took play to the other end but handling errors meant half chances went begging.

Sandal finished strongly driving over but Tongans had the last word when Scott Poole powered past several attempted tackles to clinch a good win.

York Thirds...........15

Viscounts.............22

On a very heavy pitch Viscounts made the early running, skipper Jamie Chappell giving them a 6-0 lead with two penalties.

York hit back with a try and a penalty to make it 8-6 at half-time and stretched the lead with a converted try on the re-start.

Viscounts gradually gained the upper hand with the back row playing well and Mark Duxbury used his strength to power over for a brace of tries. Jamie Chappell added two more penalties to seal a deserved win.