Otley 13 Nuneaton 9

 

Prior to this game, Otley stood third from bottom, and therefore in a dreaded

relegation spot. Defeats at home to Esher and away to Stourbridge had enabled

rivals Cinderford and Blackheath to climb above Otley. Nuneaton were one

position below, and so this was an indisputable “must-win” match.

 

The first half proved to be a dire affair. It encapsulated all that is

potentially bad about rugby union. Both sets of forwards were determined to

keep the ball very tight, and were far more concerned to protect and re-cycle

possession than to release good ball to their backs. In turn, the two sets of

backs were reluctant to run such ball as they received and preferred to kick

incessantly for position. There was even little interest in trying to find

touch, for fear of the ball going out of play on the full, with the ensuing

loss of yardage. Frankly, the forward tussle was about as entertaining as a

tug-of-war match between two tractors and the backs’ constant aerial

bombardment about as purposeful as a volley ball game played under a

non-aggression pact. As Otley have often shown this season, it doesn’t have to

be like that.

 

The entertainment bypass notwithstanding, the young and light Otley

forwards did well to hold their own against much heavier and more experienced

opponents. They obviously missed the leadership and inspiration of captain

Howard Parr, restricted due to a leg injury to a place on the replacements’

bench. Nevertheless, they stuck doggedly to the task, with Ollie Stedman

proving a particular thorn in Nuneaton’s side. Otley held their own in ruck,

maul and line out, and even managed to win two first half scrums against the

head. However, when ball was won the backs contrived to either kick it away

fruitlessly or make basic errors with their handling. All season, this young

team has been on a high learning curve, and spectators have been appropriately

appreciative, sympathetic and understanding. But one thing has to be learned

and learned quickly - how to maintain composure under pressure. Twice in the

first quarter of the match Otley had clear try scoring opportunities, the first

ruined by a dropped ball and the second by a wild pass going astray with a

clear overlap begging. Stand- off James Murray had a good game and constantly

set up his three-quarters for a viable attack, but his team-mates’ faulty

judgement and poor execution invariably ruined his efforts.

 

After twenty minutes of stalemate, Nuneaton took the lead with a neat

drop goal. They went on to exert further pressure and gained a kickable

penalty, but the shot went wide. Otley were now the team under pressure. In the

35th minute, Otley struck back with a good move. Full-back Chris

Georgiou made a break with a forceful run and passed on to winger Ollie Denton.

Denton burst through a tackle and then deftly chipped the ball towards the

Nuneaton try line. With Denton following up swiftly, the defender had little

option but to take the ball over the line and touch down to concede a five-yard

scrum. From this, Otley were awarded a penalty, which Murray converted to put

them level at 3-3.

 

It had been a dull first half, but after the break the game suddenly

exploded into life. Otley conceded a penalty for offside at a scrum, and

Nuneaton gratefully took the kick at goal to give themselves a 6-3 lead.

However, Otley struck back immediately with a fine move. Otley attacked the Nuneaton

line with a series of attacks, setting up dynamic rucks and recycling the ball.

From one of the rucks, Murray ran through a gap and passed crisply to the

ever-dangerous Joel Gill. Gill took the ball on the burst, cut through the

cover defence and scored over in the right-hand corner. Murray kicked the

difficult conversion and Otley were 10-6 in the lead.

 

Nuneaton came back with a surging attack and only a brave last-ditch

tackle from Ollie Denton saved a certain try. Inevitably, Nuneaton’s pressure

bore fruit and after 50 minutes, Otley conceded a penalty. The kick at goal was

successful and the lead was cut to the narrowest of margins at 10-9. The last

half-hour was going to be very close and very tense.

 

So it proved to be. Needing to score, Nuneaton could no longer rely on

a tight and conservative strategy, and so they threw the ball about and

attacked the Otley try line. However, the Otley defence held out bravely,

keeping their defensive line intact and tackling solidly.

 

In the 68th minute, Otley broke out of defence to threaten

the Nuneaton tryline. Scrum-half Stephen Depledge (always alert and

threatening) surprised Nuneaton by making a move on the ill-defended blind-side

of a scrum. He burst forward looking for support. Alas, most of the Otley

players proved to be just as baffled by his initiative as were Nuneaton and he

was on his own. But then winger James Twomey dashed up in support,  took the ball on a diagonal run and sprinted to

the tryline. Frantic Nuneaton defenders scurried back and just managed to bring

him to ground inches short of scoring a spectacular try.  A ruck formed and the ball was re-cycled. At

the next ruck, Nuneaton were penalised. Murray scored the goal and Otley were

13-9 ahead. It was pleasing to have a little more of a buffer zone;

significantly, a penalty or drop goal would not now suffice for Nuneaton.

However, three points were scant reward for the enterprise shown by Depledge

and Twomey. The penalty goal signalled the cue for Howard Parr to come on,

greeted with cheers from the Otley fans. He made an immediate difference,

organising the pack and putting himself about around the rucks and mauls. 

 

Otley now had ten minutes to hang on and Nuneaton had ten minutes to

save the game. The match ended in a frenetic war of attrition, with Nuneaton

besieging the Otley tryline. The Otley defence never flinched and Nuneaton

could not find a way through. As the game moved into stoppage time, one of

rugby’s most immutable rules came into play: when you are losing and desperate

to score, there isn’t enough stoppage time; when you are hanging on to a  small winning margin, the stoppage time goes

on far too long. Eventually, Nuneaton ran out of time and the very last act of

the game was for Murray to hoof the ball well and truly into touch to signal a

long-awaited blast on the referee’s whistle.

 

The quality of play had been variable; anybody who decided to just

watch the second half proved to be a good judge. However, Otley had to work

very hard for this vital victory and can take great credit from their win.

 

Otley now face two difficult away games at Newbury and Tynedale. The

next home match is against local friends and rivals Wharfedale on the 9th of

January. This is almost always a good game and any Otley citizen eager to get

the new decade off to a good start could do little better than to head for

Cross Green that day. Also, the club has authorised a collection for the

Wheatfields Hospice and so there’s also the chance to demonstrate a little New

Year’s philanthropy.