Old Modernians 24 Old Otliensians 14

THE strong home pack held the key to this Yorkshire Silver Trophy clash as Otliensians struggled to contain their opponents' well-organised driving mauls.

Although Otliensians took the lead with a penalty try they were overpowered in the forward battle and conceded two tries in each half before scoring their second try late in the game.

The hosts started off in style with their pack picking and driving for 12 phases to gain field position, but errors allowed the visitors to use the slope to take play into the Modernians' half.

They moved the ball wide through half backs Rob Lofthouse and Ollie Eaves to allow full back Kristian Keinhorst to put a kick through for speedy winger Declan Jackson. As he raced after the ball, he was taken out and the referee had no hesitation in awarding a penalty try which was converted by Keinhorst to provide a 7-0 lead.

Although the visitors’ scrums and line-outs were generally holding their own, the home back row were making life difficult for the Otliensians' half backs. When the ball was moved wide, progress tended to be slow and disjointed.

Veteran forward Richard Smith came on to add weight and experience to the visitors’ pack, but there was a setback when a yellow card was awarded against a visiting forward for slowing down play.

The Modernians pack capitalised and produced a try from a well-organised driving maul. The conversion levelled the scores.

The hosts continued to compete well up the slope, but errors allowed fly half Ollie Eaves to push play back into the opposition half through long kicks.

Modernians missed a penalty and the visitors responded with some good interplay between forwards and backs to create chances, but the home defence was solid and the forwards again managed to work their way upfield to score an unconverted try.

With their tails up and the slope in their favour, the home side took play into the visitors’ half with some good offloading among the forwards.

Otliensians defended strongly with flankers Ali Campbell, Greg Manning to the fore and there were some rampaging runs from No 8 Rob Arbuckle and lock Jack Smith.

Will Prest came on a replacement winger, but a then a late tackle produced a yellow card against Modernians. Despite being a man down, the hosts used their pack to push play up to the visitors’ line where quick ball from a ruck produced a try near the posts and the conversion stretched their lead to 19-7.

In defending the line, the visiting scum half and captain Rob Lofthouse suffered an arm injury and had to leave the field with Keinhorst taking over and Connor Bateman standing in at full back.

Otliensians defended valiantly against almost continuous pressure from the hosts who were battering away at the line for long periods, but another drive by Mods eventually produced a try wide out .

Despite having to reshuffle through injuries, Otliensians at last stepped up their game and with strong driving from brothers Josh and Jim Dyson, Arbuckle and Jack Smith they took play up to the home line.

The lively play continued and when the ball was whipped out to fly half Eaves, he cut through a gap to score a fine try which Keinhorst converted.