Big Result Strengthens Pythons Second Place Spot in the Table
Harrogate Pythons travelled to Otley looking for their seventh win on the bounce against struggling Otliensians. Jed Carr kicked off and with a howling gale behind them the Pythons were soon camped in Ensians territory. With kicking not really an option, Ensians options were reduced to trying to run the ball out of defence and they were penalised for offside. Will Clough slotted the penalty to open the Pythons account. 0-3 5 mins. With Ensians struggling to contain the Pythons well-structured game plan, a battering run from Scott Irvine was stopped just short and Nino Cutino was on hand to carry and drive over. Clough converted 0-10 12 mins. From the restart, again Irvine burst away to be stopped on the line and this time Jon Pickard picked up and drove over. 0-15 13 mins. Irvine suffered a cut eye in making the try and could take no further part in the game. Solid driving from Matt Leech and Marcus Fotherby created the space for Liam Kernoghan to release James Audsley-Beck on the outside, who rounded his man and scored under the posts. Converted by Clough. 0-22 16 mins. Next it was the turn of Tim Evans who was unstoppable in the midfield and he raced away to score, converted by Clough. 0-29 18 mins. Ensians now enjoyed their best period of the game, only to be met by determined Pythons defence and a turnover in the Pythons 22 by Jordan Payne was cleared by a Carr kick for a line out in the Ensians 22. Strong work from the lineout by Nathan Wake resulted in a driving maul which collapsed over the Ensians line with Calum Brook scoring the try, converted by Clough. 0-36 32 mins. From the restart good hands by Kernoghan produced an inside pass for Evans to crash onto and race away for his 2nd try, converted by Clough. 0-43 35 mins. There was just time for Max Sharp and Sam Beagrie to combine well to create the space for Audsley-Beck to cross for his 2nd and make the half time score Otliensians 0 Pythons 48.
Ensians were now playing with the wind at their backs, but it made little difference to the relentless Pythons squad. Evans powered his way over for his hat trick try, converted by Clough and Sharp then dummied his way over for another. 0-60 47 mins. Next it was the turn of the returning Harry Parrish who simply had too much pace and scored in the corner. Amazingly Clough added the touchline conversion into the wind. 0-67 60 mins. Again Evans broke through from long distance, this time Clough was in support to take the ball, touch down under the posts and convert. 0-74 62 mins. Ensians were now struggling, especially out wide and Parrish added his 2nd followed by a long distance try from Ross Fallenstein, converted by Clough. 0-86 70 mins. George Booth fielded the restart and fell awkwardly in the tackle, breaking his leg and displacing his ankle. The Pythons club wish George a speedy recovery. Normal service was quickly resumed with Audsley-Beck again showing impressive pace and racing clear for his hat trick, converted by Clough. 0-93 73 mins. From the restart, prop Wake raced clear and was stopped just short of the line. His fellow prop was first to react and picked up and drove over. 0-98 75 mins. The ton was topped on the last play when Fallenstein was put clear on the outside and he showed impressive gas to dash away from the defenders and score under the posts. Clough added the conversion to make the final score Otliensians 0 Pythons 105.
This was a record score for the Pythons club, and a fitting was to celebrate Jon Pickard’s 100th appearance.
