Baildon RUFC

In a battle between clubs placed fifth (Baildon) and fourth in the table, Baildon had established a 33-14 advantage.

However, in the final throes of the match, the hosts conceded two converted tries, which not only gave Ossett a bonus point for scoring four tries but another bonus point for losing by seven points or less.

Baildon still leapfrogged Ossett to go fourth behind Dinnington, Yarnbury and Ripon, but only 10 points separate Ripon in third from Bradford & Bingley in eighth in a congested mid-table.

Baildon’s director of rugby Duxbury said: “I am fairly proud of what we did as for 75 minutes we played how we have trained to play all year, and it was probably our best 75 minutes of the season so far.

“We weren’t too flashy in attack, we played it direct and simple and worked hard for each other, but then a couple of injuries for us and a couple of late tries for them brought them back into it.

“However, they are a good team and we knew that they would do that with big lads in the middle and some pace in the backs.”

Fly half Duxbury added: “As backs we have to thank the forwards because they were sensational and worked from minute one to minute 80.

“They used their footwork to evade contact. We know we are not the biggest team in the world but we played really well and it was an absolute pleasure to sit behind them and let them do their job.

“We had a lot of territory early doors and didn’t really convert well, which is a bit of an issue, but their defence is fresh at that stage and they have more energy to cover the gaps, and then they scored aquality length-of-the-pitch try, although we must ask ourselves why we were giving them so much space.

“We probably looked after 25 minutes playing uphill and when we turned round so close (Baildon were trailing 14-13) we know that playing downhill is worth 10 to 15 points.”

For large periods of the second stanza Ossett were in their own half, and Duxbury revealed: “We made a conscious decision this week to play territory a little bit more than we have been as throwing the ball about in our 22 can put pressure on your own game, although we like to keep that option in there.

“But we also wanted to test out their kicking game, and when we were down there we defended so well.”

A turning point five minutes into the second half was Duxbury’s chip over the front line of Ossett’s midfield defence, and he regathered to score in the left-hand corner, putting Baildon 18-14 ahead.

He said: “That was a miracle - call it my first Christmas miracle. I knew that we had a penalty advantage and I put it over the top as I saw that they were flying up a bit, and the bounce worked perfectly for me but not for their full back as it bounced away from and into my hands, but very rarely does that work.”

On the last five minutes, Duxbury said: “The table doesn’t lie and we know how good Ossett are - they have been pushing all the top boys this season and picking up good results and we knew that they were going to come back at us, but fortunately for us it was the last five minutes rather than the last 15 or 20.

“A lot of our forwards had run their blood to water by that stage and their forwards got on a bit of a rumble but we know how to correct that for next week, when we have another formidable challenge coming our way in Huddersfield Laund Hill.”

At outside centre for Baildon - his first start there - was former Aireborough player Jamie Sykes.

Duxbury said: “He came to us to play in that position but he has covered for us on the wing when he was not available that often, but now he is available a lot more he has played some good games at outside centre  for our twos against good opposition in Laund Hill seconds and Bradford Salem seconds, who have some big Tongans, and we thought that it was the right time to give him a shot in a position that is potentially up for grabs.

“He learned quickly after making a couple of wrong reads in the first half and didn’t make them again, and that is all that you can ask from a player that he learns quickly, and he has a brain that I am excited to work with.

“I spoke to him about five or six years ago when he was at Aireborough when he was out for a shoulder operation, but he has worked hard since then, taken the world by storm and his footwork is unbelievable, and he is a good lad to have around the place.”

As for the run-in to Christmas, Duxbury admitted: “It doesn’t get any easier does it? We have Laund Hill - I have heard about their combination in the centres - and then we have high-flying Dinnington at their place and they have already invited us to dinner, which is what community rugby is all about.

“That is going to be a tough test and we have a few bodies who are bruised, and hopefully we can freshen them up for next week and go into Christmas on a positive.”

On what was a balmy day for Jenny Lane in late November, Baildon did not really take advantage of Ossett conceding six early penalties, although Duxbutry put the home side ahead with a seventh-minute penalty.

The visitors then scored with their first attack of note six minutes later, centres Nathan Lawrence and Caelum Jordan combining before left wing Will Forrest put Arian Woods over for Forrest to convert.

Duxbury missed an 18th-minute penalty, awarded after Ossett No 8 Will Martin was sin-binned by referee Jake McAndrew (North Society) for a no-arms tackle that was also high, but they did cash in with an Ollie Murphy try three minutes later to lead 8-7.

Improvisation by Will Eastell on the right wing, kicking a loose ball infield, almost brought Baildon their second try in the 24th minute, and they came close again nine minutes later after a great run out of defence by Duxbury, left winger Luke Strauss’ pass being intercepted.

Shaw’s fine tackle snuffed out one Ossett attack in the 37th minute but they re-took the lead a minute later via a Lawrence try down the left which was aided by some poor Baildon tackling.

Forrest converted to make it 14-8, but fast hands then put Luke Strauss over in added time, giving Baildon that one-point deficit.

They weren’t behind for long, however, after Duxbury’s chip and re-gather led to his try five minutes into the second half.

Baildon then missed two opportunities to add to their lead, one when a line-out deep in Ossett territory was not straight, while the other attack ended with a wild pass, but they did make it 21-14 with a Duxbury penalty on 61 minutes.

Eastell went over from a Luke Strauss pass six minutes later, and it seemed job done when centre Jonty Glendinning ran through the middle to put Eastell over in the 71st minute, Duxbury converting for 33-14.

But with Baildon flagging, Ossett secured their two bonus points with late tries from scrum half Danny Buckley and hooker Rob Young, Forrest converting both.