Back in September it was very much a journey into the unknown for Otley. The relegation to National Division One, the withdrawing of central funding by the RFU and  the exodus of last year’s players, all made for chronic uncertainty. A new squad was assembled, mainly of very young players and relying heavily on loan deals with Leeds Carnegie. The only faces familiar from last season were hooker Ben Steele and second row and Captain, Howard Parr. Given all that, the realistic question for the club was, “Can we avoid going down?” Certainly, it proved to be a tense and anxious season played largely under the shadow of potential relegation.

Not surprisingly, it took the new team some time to gel together. In the opening matches the players tended to panic under pressure and were disturbingly error-prone. On the other hand from the very start they resolved to play open, positive, attacking rugby. Given that the team’s strength lay in the fast and skilful backs whilst the relative weakness lay in a lack of weight in the pack, this was a sensible strategy as well as a thoroughly entertaining one. Throughout the season the free flowing attack from Otley has been a joy to watch.

However, this season two Otleys seem to have taken the field – one at home and the other away.  Away victories have only come at relegated Nuneaton and at doomed Manchester. Conversely only four teams have defeated Otley at Cross Green: Otley were outclassed by Esher, took two bonus points in giving Lauceston a run for their money, disappointed hugely by losing the crucial clash with Cinderford and lost the final game of the season to neighbours Wharfedale. Otherwise, “fortress Cross Green” held firm.

Let’s look at how the year went. Otley started the season reasonably well, winning at home, but losing away. The first four home games produced three victories and one draw. The most pleasing of the early results was the home win against the much-vaunted Cambridge team. Defeats by Launceston and Esher came as little surprise. Neither, it must be said, did the failure to win anywhere away apart from Manchester (93-3, in a ridiculous and unsafe mismatch.) The defeat at lowly Cinderford was a particular disappointment. Similarly losing heavily at Blackheath and Sedgley Park inspired little confidence. The situation seemed to come to a head in February when Otley entertained Cinderford at Cross Green. It looked to all and sundry that the winners would stay up and the losers go down. Otley lost, and looked likely to face back-to-back relegations.

Predictable away defeats at Cambridge and Lauceston were interrupted by a close home victory over Redruth. Meanwhile, Cinderford were starting to win their games.  

With the 20-20 vision of hindsight, the turning point was surely the home match against London Scottish. Otley appeared to have little chance before the game and none whatsoever when they fell 17-0 behind after only 12 minutes. The rest is, of course, history. Otley staged one of the most wonderful comebacks ever witnessed at Cross Green to snatch victory at the last. The players now knew that they were capable of performances way in advance of their league position and anything was possible. The rise in confidence in ensuing home matches was electric as Otley strung together a run of five home victories in a row. Stourbridge, Newbury and Blaydon were all defeated and league points (including unexpected bonus points) stated to soar.  The relegation issue went to the wire and in the end only Newbury’s defeat at Sedgely Park assured Otley of National One rugby next season.

The season has been tense but exciting. The players have developed both as individuals and as a team. Otley thoroughly deserved to stay up.  What of next season? If this squad can be held together, hopefully with a little  judicious strengthening, we should be competing at the other end of the table. That issue may largely lie not with Otley but with Leeds Carnegie; will they want their young players to have another year at Otley? One must also ask if this level of dependence is sustainable. But wherever those Leeds Academy players find themselves next year, we’ll long remember the adventurous rugby they treated us to.

What were the highlights of the season? I award these unofficial plaudits:

The most skilful player: Stephen Depledge.

The most influential player: Howard Parr.

The most promising young player: Chris Walker.

The most improved young player: Ollie Denton.

Match of the season:  London Scottish (obviously.)

Moment of the season: Murray’s winning conversion against Scottish.