1st XV - Match Reports (2002 / 2003)

Sunday 19th April 2003

Home Match:

-v- 

Leeds Corinthians II

Final Score:

Ossett: 5

Leeds Corinthians II: 5

Scorer:

Hart (try)

Having won the previous encounter away at Leeds comfortably Ossett entered this game expecting much the same outcome, but with the visitors not fielding a 1st XV they had a rather stronger line up than last time and gave a much better account of themselves.

Ossett scored first through Hart ,playing at No8, from a scrum close to the opposition line after having established the upper hand in the scrums. The home side kept the pressure on for most of the first half apart from when weak tackling enabled the visiting backs to break out and threaten the home line. The most notable of these attacks been when the Corinthians winger danced his way to the line, but under pressure from Paul Harris, failed to ground the ball properly.

The second half saw Corinthians up their game and they probably had the best of the attacking opportunities. Having strengthened their scrum they gained better quality possession and after a period of pressure on the Ossett line they managed to score next to the posts. With a seemingly simple kick to add the two points for the victory the Leeds kicker dawdled over his kick and had it charged down by Andy Norman.

Ossett still had time to give the visitors a chance of victory by giving away a kickable penalty but that was missed. When the final whistle was blown a draw was probably a fair result.

Best wishes to Gary Haywood, who retired hurt with a badly damaged leg, speedy recovery mate. Hope it does not prevent you touring.     

Sunday 12th April 2003

Home Match:

-v- Hornsea

Final Score:

Ossett: 6

Hornsea: 8

Scorer:

Broadhead (2 pens)

The final league game of the season saw Ossett up against a team hoping to clinch the second spot and promotion, whilst Ossett were hoping for a win to give them a chance of avoiding last place in the league. And, as much of the season had gone, Ossett almost achieved their aim and denied the opposition theirs.

Hornsea took the lead through a penalty early on but the home side hit back with two successful penalties from Broadhead to take a lead which they held until the last quarter of the match. The visitors renowned backs were held in check by Ossetts back’s until a series of debatable decisions by the referee gave Hornsea a run at Ossetts line and despite more strong tackling they finally created an overlap and scored in the corner.

With ten minutes remaining Ossett tried their best to claw back the deficit but a wayward drop goal attempt was all that they could muster.

So the league season finished the way the rest of it had gone. Plenty of  effort, and plenty of promise, but, more often than not no final result. 

Sunday 6th April 2003

Home Tour Match:

-v- Thatcham XV

Final Score:

Ossett: 36

Thatcham XV: 6

click here for photos

Ossetts points came from a hat trick by T J Wrigglesworth & other tries from Rob Hatfield, Ian Whitehead and Tom Hirst. Tom also added three conversions.

Although second best in the game, Thatcham certainly provided excellent entertainment après match!

Saturday 5th April 2003

Home Match:

-v- Morley 3rd XV

Final Score:

Ossett: 36

Morley 3rd XV: 14

SCORERS

Tries: 

Osborn (2)

Broadhead

Holt

Slack

Whitehead

Conversions:

Broadhead (3)

Link to Tour Match -v-

Thatcham XV

Sunday 6th April

Ossett entertained Morley in this friendly fixture desperate to shake off the disappointment of relegation and went about it in determined fashion. The side showed a number of changes due to injuries and work with both Smith and Broadhead coming off last weeks bench to start at prop and scrumhalf respectively. Connelly moved into the pack at flanker and Woofenden from the flank to second row. Norman replaced Robertson at centre and Taylor started at fullback after a few weeks absent with an injury.

Ossett started briskly with three tries in the first quarter, the pick of which been Osborn’s try coming immediately after the first score. The Morley restart fell short and from the resultant scrum Whitehead picked up at No 8 passed to Broadhead and following swift passing along the backs Gough broke the defence and slipped a well timed pass to Osborn who raced in to score in the corner. The other tries in the half coming from Holt and Slack. Towards the end of the half Morley started to work together as a team and come more into the game, but their attacks were still rare occurrences and were snuffed out by strong Ossett tackling. Not for the first time this season the home pack monopolised possession from the scrum due in no small part to the skills of hooker Shaw.

The second half started in the same fashion as the first with Ossett going straight on to the attack and after strong running from the wing, Osborn moved inside and slipped the ball out of a tackle for Whitehead to score by the posts. Broadhead, who had taken over the kicking duties, added the conversion.

Morley then came into the game as a attacking force and, as Ossetts tackling seemed to tire a bit, they managed to bag themselves a couple of well worked tries, both of which were converted. In between the Morley scores Osborn managed to slip in for his second try after more quality passing along the backs. To put the seal on a deserved win and also a quality individual performance Broadhead pounced on a loose line out throw by Morley near their line and ran in unopposed to score under the posts.

It should be pointed out that, despite his claims to the contrary Bradshaw did not score.

Saturday 29th March 2003

Away Match:

-v- Aireborough 1st XV

Final Score:

Ossett: 13

Aireborough 1st XV: 28

SCORERS

Tries: 

Holt, Robertson

Penalty:

Mills

Despite the disappointment of having two points deducted and returning to the bottom of the league so soon after dragging themselves off it, the team still travelled to Leeds confident that the season could still be saved. Unfortunately that confidence was not backed up by the performance and despite individuals having good games the team did not perform as a whole.

Ossett still held the lead in this match for large parts of it due to a first half try from Holt and one in the second half from Robertson and if Ossett had scored again after the second try Aireborough' s heads would probably have dropped and Ossett might have been the team to run away with it. Unfortunately it was the home side that got the decisive score and then ran in some soft points to give a score that rather flattered them at the final whistle.

It now looks like the season is going to end in relegation for Ossett, unless the Yorkshire RUFC have one off their infamous reorganisations and we benefit from that but it is unlikely.

The only thing now left to play for is pride. A victory in the final league fixture at home to Hornsea, who's season has fallen away after a promising start, we could pull ourselves of the bottom of the league and save ourselves that indignity.

Saturday 22nd March 2003

Away Match:

-v- Hudds YMCA 3rd XV

Final Score:

Ossett: 36

Hudds YMCA 4th XV: 0

SCORERS

Tries: 

Lonsdale 2 ,Connelly, Holt, Woofenden, Osborn 1 each

Conversions:

Broadhead 3 cons

Ossett travelled to Huddersfield in good heart after the victory over Adwick le Street and approached this friendly match determined to carry on in the same fashion

Due to work commitments there were a number of changes to the squad with Lee Smith coming into the second row and Jez Broadhead having an outing at stand off . Gareth Burnley came into the squad on the bench and Paul Harris was welcomed to the 1st XV for the first time also on the bench.

Ossett attacked almost immediately from the kick off and the first score was not long in coming. No. 8 Whitehead picked up from a scrum and broke blind ,swapped passes with scrum half Connelly and then passed to flanker Woofenden who raced 20 yards to score. This set the tone for the rest of the half and with the Ossett pack having total domination of the scrums possession was fairly easy to come by, though at times it was also easily given up due to silly mistakes.

The next try was scored by winger Lonsdale after more good passing work and finished off with a fine run to the corner. Two further tries were added in the half by Connelly and team Captain Holt.

In the second half tries became harder to come by. Though the amount of possession  remained the same the Huddersfield players began to put a bit more bite into their defence and Ossett had to work harder to make headway. More scores were inevitable, though, and eventually they came along. Lonsdale once again scored in the corner after another fine run and Osborn was sent over after a cleverly taken penalty by Broadhead.

Special mention must go to the two replacements Harris and Burnley ,who both came on and contributed greatly to a fine team effort.

Saturday 15th March 2003

Yorkshire League 5

Away Match:

-v- Adwick Le Street

Final Score:

Ossett 21

Adwick Le Street 17

SCORERS:

Tries:

Whitehead & Lonsdale.

Conversions:

Mills

Penalties:

Mills (2)

D G Slack

Ossett travelled to Adwick, bouyed by the win over Wharfedale Rams , hoping to reverse a string off loses in their travels to the South Yorkshire side. Ossett  quickly went on the attack but had only a missed penalty attempt to show for their efforts. A long drop out  then led to period of pressure for the home side but strong defence kept them at bay and they too could only muster a missed penalty attempt for their efforts.

The first score soon came along in the form of a drop goal from stand off  Slack after strong running from centre Osborn. Ossett dominance of the set pieces was beginning to make its mark on the game and both of Ossetts tries game from scrums close to the opposition line. The first came after strong running from scrum half Connelly who fed the ball to No. 8 Whitehead who forced his way over to touch down. The second try was scored by winger Lonsdale again after good work by Connelly direct from a scrum.

Despite their dominance of most aspects of the game the visitors often relaxed directly after scoring  and allowed the home team to score themselves and keep their noses in the game.

The only try of the second half was scored by  Adwick but two penalties by Mills enabled Ossett to keep ahead and run out worthy winners.

The seconds were in action at home against Leeds Corinthians 3rd’s and ran out winners by  26 points to 0 . The try scorers were Paul Harris with two , Ben Woolley and Tom Hirst getting one each. Hirst also got one conversion  and Scott Whitehead  got two. It should be noted that the second team squad lent the visitors five players  and also managed to despatch eight players to Sandal to assist  them in fielding a third team. Thanks are given to all Ossett players who turned out for another team this weekend to enable as many players as possible to have a game of rugby.

Saturday 11th January 2003

Yorkshire League 5

Home Match:

-v- Stanley Rodillians

Final Score:

Ossett 6

Stanley Rodillians 12

This fixture pitted top of the League with bottom and with the match played on a Springmill field that in places resembled a rice pudding, rugby was not going to be pretty for players and spectators alike. 

So it proved to be with penalty conversions being the only scores of the day, albeit that Ossett crossed their opponents line only to deprive themselves of a score with the ball being spilled forward in the act of touching down.  Playing with a slight advantage from the wind Ossett kept the ball tight and were awarded penalties within kicking range. The heavy conditions took their toll and both attempts were short and wide, before Slack was able to find both range and success to convert two penalty attempts. With one penalty miss from the visitors from in front of the Ossett posts scoring was at a minimum but the home forwards came closest to scoring a try driving Stanley backwards but having crossed the line and in the final act of going to ground for the score the ball was spilled and the pressure on the visitors line reduced. With both sides showing indiscretion the referee was kept busy, including the sin binning of a player from each side, but half time saw the home side in front by 6 points to nil. 

The second half showed why Stanley are top of the table as they came back strongly and succeeded with successive penalties to tie the scores. Defences were strong and Ossett, whilst securing greater ball from the scrums, were unable to spend any lengthy periods of play in their opponents half. Good tactical kicking from the hand by the visitors kept continued pressure on the Ossett side and they found themselves camped for long periods of time on their own 22-metre line. Two further penalties for the visitors saw them edge ahead, maintain their advantage to the final whistle and finish the game victorious.

Saturday 26th October 2002

Yorkshire League 5

Home Match:

-v- Old Rishworthians

Final Score:

Ossett 22

Old Rishworthians 6

Meeting for the first time in League football Ossett started the game at a brisk pace and with the wind at their backs dominated the early exchanges. After 10 minutes of intense pressure, HOLT, the Ossett skipper powered over on the left side for a fine try and with the successful conversion the home side looked well placed to score at ease.

Things didn't turn out as intended as small errors littered Ossetts' play allowing the visitors to stay in contention. However, following further pressure, OSBORNE increased the home advantage with a penalty conversion.

This only spurred Ossett to a higher gear and a fine move along the touchline with a slick inside pass from CONNELLY, the Ossett scrum half allowed WOOFFENDEN to score far out on the left. A conversion by OSBORNE saw the home side to half-time with a 17 - 3 advantage.

Old Rishworthians started the second half with greater purpose and dominated the third quarter of the game both in the loose and scrum but the only score to show for their efforts was a second penalty after 20 minutes of the half.

The second half was marred by an altercation between the two teams that saw one from each side sin-binned for their indiscretions. The teams quickly resumed normal playing and it was left for HOLT to deliver the coup de grace with his second try of the match to leave Ossett victors by 22 points to 6.

Man of the match deservedly went to Ossett scrum half CONNELLY who was a constant thorn in the opponents side.

Saturday 9 November 2002

Yorkshire League 5

Home Match:

-v- Garforth

Final Score:

Ossett 46

Garforth 10

No match report available but the following were the scorers:

Trys: 

Roberts (2), Wooffenden, Hirst, Holt and Webster

Conversions:

Mills (5)

Penalties:

Mills (2)

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