OORUFC Match Report
20th December 2025
OORUFC 33 vs 24 Leeds Corinthians
Ensians reach semi-final of Yorkshire Silver Trophy
Old Otliensians welcomed Leeds Corinthians--high flyers in Yorkshire 2-- to Chaffer’s Field on a cold ,grey, calm afternoon for the rearranged quarter final match in the Yorkshire Silver Trophy Competition .
With some regular first team players missing ‘Ensians gave a run out to some former colts(eight of the squad being under 23-of whom 6 were teenagers- who had all come through the excellent Colts pathway) giving a youthful look to the side, despite fielding super veteran Arby Arbuckle at prop.
The game started evenly, but when ‘Ensians erred,Leeds took the lead with a well taken penalty after 5 minutes.This fired up the home team who moved into the visitor’s 22 and a neat interchange of passes following a break by Jake Bentley saw Sam Featherstone crash over wide out followed by a brilliant conversion.
Despite stern defence by Leeds, ‘Ensians were well on top .The forwards were superior in the scrums and the loose,and held their own in the lineouts, with debutants Jack Gillson and Joe Atkinson together with Coray Cowan, prominent, having great games.
Tries came at regular intervals being scored by Will Howarth, after a break by Matt Peaty, by Sam Featherstone for his second, after good forward play on the Corinthians line and by Jake Bentley,following good back play. All were converted by Jake Bentley, making a score of 28 points to 3 after 26 minutes.
Corinthians then “upped” their game and stern defence held the home team at bay .Injuries to stand off Jake Bentley ,(with 18 years old Isaac Gillson moving from centre to take his place in a most confident manner) ,and Connor Bateman did not help the home cause.
On the cusp of half time, starting with a penalty on halfway, the visitors moved the ball across the pitch from the ensuing lineout to outpace the defence and score a fine converted try to make the half time score 28 points to 10.
Leeds started the 2nd half strongly and strong home defence held firm for a while but on 7 minutes a good movement by Leeds involving forwards and backs resulted in a converted try to bring the score to 28 points to 17.
Not to be outdone the blues ground their way up the pitch yard by yard to score an unconverted try by Skipper Luke Exley to give them a bit of breathing space.
For the next 20 minutes play flowed from end to end with some tough forward play and also good passing movements with substitute debutant teenagers Theo Abbey, Jude Stone and Zac Ward showing great potential. Leeds were showing that they were “up for it” and after 33 minutes scored a good converted try from a pleasant move.
This ended the scoring with ‘Ensians winning by 33 points to 24 .They were the better team and the young players “did them proud” but it was a very hard game, at times rather feisty, with Corinthians showing why they are going for promotion to Yorkshire 2.
John Churchman
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