Otley RUFC vs Cambridge 24/10/09

Otley 17 Cambridge 12

Before the game, few pundits could have given Otley much chance of victory. Cambridge lay second in the league with 27 points from 7 matches. Otley, after last week's disappointing defeat at lowly Cinderford, were languishing in 11th place, just four points above the relegation zone. Even the weather contrived to be against Otley. It poured with rain all morning and the conditions looked unlikely to favour Otley's fast and light young team. However, the rain stopped just before kick-off, and the match started in bright sunshine.

Otley were awarded a very kickable penalty in the first minute but alas, Murray missed it. Both teams then got stuck into the game and started to provide an open, fast and skillful spectacle. After 15 minutes, Otley struck. Hooker Ben Steele celebrated his 25th birthday by ripping the ball off an opponent in the tackle and whipping it out to the supporting Joel Gill. The ball was passed on to scrum-half Stephen Depledge, who sprinted through a gap, outpaced te Cambridge defence and went over near the posts for an excellent opening try. Murray converted and Otley led 7-0.

The lead only last about five minutes. Otley were rather harshly penalised at a scrum; Cambridge took the tap quickly and the big Cambridge backs barged through the flimsy Otley tackling to level the scores. Lack of sheer weight looked like being Otley's probable undoing again. Ten minutes later, Cambridge took the lead; as they moved the ball out to their right flank the Otley defence seemed to have gone walkabout and the Cambridge winger jogged in virtually unopposed. The conversion was missed, but Otley trailed 12-7 and the writing looked on the wall.

Young and inexperienced players often lose heart once they go behind, but this never happened to Otley. Urged on by their captain, Howard Parr, they re-doubled their efforts and passed the ball about adventurously looking for gaps in the strong Cambridge defence. Such a gap was forged in the 30th minute when a smooth three-quarters movement saw the ball taken on the Joel Gill. He sold a half dummy, burst through the ensuing gap and passed crisply to Chris Georgiou, coming up strongly from full back. Georgiou pushed off the desperate last-ditch Cambridge tackle to dive over in the corner. The conversion was missed, but Otley were level at 12-12. The final minutes of the hallf saw Cambridge camped in the home 22-metre area, but Otley's defence held out bravely. The half time discussion was about Otley's ability to hold out against the bigger opponents. Would Otley tire in the last quarter and be overwhelmed?

Otley were awarded a penalty in the 50th minute, but Murray missed. Cambridge came back strongly. Otley tried hard to play to their strengths and compensate for their weaknesses. Pessession was usualy run with ball in hand, rather than kicked away. Scrums were heeled quickly and cleanly rather than te forwards engaging in a physical scrummaging tussle. Inevitably, the difference in size and weight started to show. Rugby Union is a very physical game - half ball game, half combat sport and the collisions were starting to take their toll on the lighter Otley team. However, tackles were rarely, if ever, missed and the defence was holding out. Attacks from Otley were looking promising, but often a questionable judgement or a panic moment let them down when a little steadiness could have reaped dividends.

On the hour, Otley took the lead. Right winger Oli Denton fielded a clearance kick and passed on to Joel Gill. Gill, ever dangerous and looking for gaps, made ground before handing on to the number 8 Oli Stedman who forced his way over despite the efforts of three opponents. The conversion attempt failed, but Otley led 17-12.

Cambridge went hell-for-leather for the Otley try line, but the home defence never wilted. Panic now set in for Cambridge as they passed the ball about wildly looking for try-scoring opportunities.

There was a nerve-racking moment when a missed Cambridge penalty-kick for goal was knocked-on in the Otley dead-ball area. Cambridge attacked strongly from the ensuing five-yard scrum but Otley held out.

For a full twenty minutes Otley absorbed the full force of the Cambridge pressure. Five minutes injury time seem endless. When at last the referee blew for full-time, the Otley players were rightly jubilant. This was definitely their best performance of the season. They had played out of their skins, mixed it all the way with the second top team in the league and emerged triumphant. Doubtless the celebrations would be hard and long.

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