Otley 28 Launceston 25 18/09/2010

Otley’s first two league matches of the season had been close and tense affairs with the result in serious doubt right up to the final whistle. Launceston came into this match with a record of one victory and one defeat and so  we could probably expect another close encounter. Alas for Launceston, they have had 20 points deducted from them since they went into administration as a result of over-testing the legendary patience of those nice people from the Inland Revenue! Let’s all hope they sort their finance out and continue to play rugby at an appropriate level.

Otley made a few changes to personnel; Joe Walsh played in the centre for his debut with James White going to full back and Dallas Pawley came into the second row in place of Richard Beck.

It was an overcast but dry day as the match kicked off in front of another disappointing crowd. Early Launceston pressure put Otley on the back foot and indicated that the visitors had a good deal of forward power at their disposal. Otley withstood the early pressure with sound defence and soon hit back with a series of attacks launched upon the Launceston try line. After five minutes Launceston were penalised for offside near their own 22-metre line and Jervis Manupenu neatly kicked the penalty goal to put Otley 3-0 in the lead. This was the first of many penalties conceded by both teams of offside. Several of the decisions looked decidedly marginal, but the message never really got through to the players that the referee was strict on offside and determined to give the attacking team room in which to play. Indeed it was only five minutes later that Otley returned the favour to their guests by standing blatantly offside, and conceding a penalty. Launceston gratefully capitalised and equalled the scores at 3-3.  

Launceston now started to dominate the match. Effective variations of forward drives, powerful rucks and mauls and crisp passing movements put the Otley defence under considerable pressure. For much of the time the defence held firm, but twice the Otley line was breached and Launceston were good value for their two first-half tries. Some of the Launceston moves seemed to include marginal forward passes, but throughout the game this particular breach of the laws caused the referee scant concern. Fortunately for Otley neither try was converted, but the visitors still led by the formidable margin of 13-3 after only 20 minutes.

Otley came back with determination and verve.   After 25 minutes, a flowing Otley attack moved the ball fluently from left wing to the right and then back again. A slight gap in the defence was spotted by debutant Joe Walsh and he burst through for a fine try. Stand off Manupenu converted and the Launceston lead was cut to 10-13.

Just one minute later Otley scored a superb try. A good passing movement culminated in Afoa-Petwrson sending an excellent quick pass out to Chris Morgan the right wing. Morgan took the pass cleanly and sprinted through the defence with a great run to the line. The try was again converted and Otley took the lead at 17-13.

Launceston pressure was repelled by sturdy Otley defence. On the brink of half time a Launceston player was sin-binned for a deliberate knock on when a try to Otley was  clearly beckoning. A penalty try would not have been out of the question, but instead we had to settle for a penalty kick at goal as the last act of the first half. Unfortunately it was missed, but Otley could be well pleased to go into the half time dressing room with a 17-13 lead and knowing they would be playing against 14 men for the first ten minutes of the second half.   

At the start of the second half, the initial pressure came from 14 man- Launceston. However, Otley withstood this and mounted a robust attack of their own. Launceston wilted under the pressure and conceded a penalty under the post, plus a second sin-binning. The penalty was easily converted and Otley now led 20-13.

On the hour came the try of the match. Centre Joe Barker broke out of defence to race toward the Launceston line. He fed Curtis Wilson with a superbly timed pass. Wilson drew the two chasing defenders before returning the ball to Barker. As the Launceston players closed in on him, Barker returned the ball to Wilson who sprinted for the corner to complete an exciting move and score a fine try. The difficult conversion kick was wide, but Otley were in the ascendency at 25-13.

With 20 minutes to go Launceston made an astute tactical substitution, bringing on two fresh props.  The pressure now mounted on Otley. Some relief came when a Launceston player was put in the sin bin for a trip. The ensuing penalty kick at goal was adjudged by the officials to have gone wide. From the centre of the main stand, it seemed clear that the ball had intercepted the uprights; certainly that was the impartial view of all the Otley fans in the stand! However soon after that, the Otley hooker Ben Steele was also sin binned for a trip, as one of the new  Launceston props went over for a try. Steel can have no complaints. The conversion was missed and Otley’s lead was cut to 25-18.

Could Otley hold out? In the 80th minute the other substitute prop drove over from close range and the try was converted to level the scores at 25-25. A draw looked in the offing.

From the kick off Otley drove into Launceston with some ferocious tackling. The ball was dropped and Otley had a scrum near the Launceston 22 metre line. The ball was won cleanly and held in channel two. The Otley pack drove the scrum back towards the Launceston line. The ball then came out cleanly; scrum half Stephen Depledge sent a crisp, flat, pass to the well-positioned Manupena. He had plenty of room and time. He steadied himself, took aim and sweetly drove his drop kick over the bar. The drop goal was awarded and Otley led at the death by 28-25. Launceston urgently attacked the Otley line but the home team stood firm and the last action of the game was a penalty to Otley, drilled firmly into touch.

This was Otley’s first win of the season, in a very exciting game that could have gone either way. That point notwithstanding, Otley thoroughly deserved their victory and can be very well pleased with their performance. Let’s hope it boosts the players’ confidence for future games.

Next week there is a very tough trip to Blackheath, currently standing third in the league. The next home game is against London Scottish. Could this possibly be as breath taking as last season’s encounter? No, of course not; but it should be a very good game: come and watch it.