Yorkshire Division Three: Baildon 5 Old Otliensians 34

OLD Otliensians, who are capable of blowing hot and cold, blew hot as per usual against derby rivals Baildon.

The home side edged the early exchanges in a game that was in some doubt on Friday night due to the wet pitch but it was the visitors who scored first up the slope.

From a scrum just inside the home half, the ball was moved wide and full back Alex Murphy joined the line before finding winger Chris Westland with an inside pass, fly half Will Cooper scoring in the corner.

And although Matty Robinson, who twisted an ankle leading up to the interval, James Fox, JJ O'Connell and Dan Cookson looked bright in attack, a Cooper penalty stretched the Otliensians lead to 8-0 before half-time.

Baildon had the wind at their backs in the second half, but hard running by Matty Dixon, Fox, Danny Pollard and Matt Withers came to nothing and frustration set in.

The home side were then again undone by phase-one ball, Luke Cowdell making the initial break in midfield and making good ground before releasing Josh Howarth to score, Cooper's conversion making it 15-0.

Baildon then enjoyed their best spell, sparked by a big Dan Fletcher hit.

Pollard turned the ball over, No 8 Cookson drew the defence and the ball was moved left and, via scrum half Robbie Hill's long pass, then right for Fletcher to put the supporting O'Connell over.

The visitors added a third try via Howarth, but were then reduced to 14 men after a yellow card for centre Olly Eaves obstructing a support runner.

However, Otliensians' precision play was rewarded with the try of the match, Cooper chipping over the defence in his own 22 for Cowdell to gather and put Murphy over under the posts.

Cooper's conversion made it 27-5.

Baildon then lost Howard Fojt to concussion and conceded the final try when Cowdell exploited an undefended blindside defence, Cooper again converting.

The lessons from Baildon from this match were that they need to be more accurate, defend wider, clear out in the tackle area and show off a more positive body language.