This was a vital match for Otley, as they

entered the “business end” of the season. The jockeying for position at the

bottom of the league is very tight and Otley entered this game just two points

ahead of Cinderford and one point behind Newbury. Blaydon lay seventh in the

table and were likely to provide stern opposition.

 

Otley got off to a tense start by conceding a

penalty for offside in a very kickable position. Fortunately, the Blaydon

goal-kicker sliced his effort well wide and Otley survived  to take the 22 metre restart kick and get

straight back in the game. Otley now put Blaydon under pressure with a series

of powerful forward bursts and crisp three-quarter moves. After ten minutes

play this paid dividends as James Murray cooly slotted over a neat drop-goal to

put Otley 3-0 in the lead.

 

From the re-start, Otley pressure mounted and

soon Blaydon drifted off-side to try to stem the tide. Murray stepped up to

take the penalty and had little difficulty increasing the lead to 6-0.

 

In the 15th minute came an

excellently worked try for Otley. Flowing passing and running had the Blaydon

defence in tatters. As the ball was re-cycled from a ruck just outside  the Blaydon 22, Murray hoisted a perfectly

judged kick into the right-hand corner where James Twomey won the scramble for

possession and touched down for a try. Unfortunately, in the move leading up to

the try, captain Howard Parr was injured by a heavy, but wholly fair, tackle

and had to leave the field. The difficult conversion attempt failed but Otley

led 11-0.

 

Ten minutes later, Blaydon were desperately

attacking when their efforts were stopped dead in their tracks by a ferocious

tackle from Joe Barker.  Last week Barker

had acquitted himself very well in the unaccustomed role of stand-off; this

week he found himself operating in the centre. Again he played well. His tackle

left the Blaydon man flat on the deck and quite unable to release the ball. A

penalty was awarded, only just inside the Blaydon half. Murray went for goal

and  drove the ball straight between the

posts. Otley led 14-0 and the game was slipping away from Blaydon.

 

However, they stuck to their guns and

hammered away at the Otley line. Otley went offside and the penalty kick was

well used to set up a line out near the Otley try-line. After several phases of

possession were re-cycled, Blaydon eventually breached the determined Otley

defence and went over for a converted try. With less than ten minutes of the

first half left, Otley led by only seven points and Blaydon were well back in

the game.

 

The half ended with Otley pressing strongly but

 a splendid move of flowing rugby ended

with a knock on near the Blaydon line.

 

Otley came out determined to continue to try

to run Blaydon off their feet. Constant pressure led to a penalty and the ball

was kicked into touch for a line out. The ball was won cleanly and moved

smoothly across to Murray, who sent another perfectly judged punt into the

corner. Curtis Wilson took the ball cleanly and touched down for an excellent

try. The conversion missed, but Otley were back in the ascendency at 19-7. 

 

Alas, straight away, the lead was cut. From

the kick off, Otley conceded a dubious penalty at a ruck, and they broke one of

the elementary rules of any competitive ball game by standing around bemused

and arguing whilst Blaydon got on with the game, took a quick tap penalty and

ran through a static “defence” to score an easy try. The conversion kick was

missed, but the score was now a perilously close 19-12. 

 

The match was now developing into a clash of

styles, with the big and experienced Blaydon pack trying to orchestrate a war

of attrition up front whilst the fast and skilful young Otley backs wanted to

throw the ball about and create open spaces. Something had to give, and

eventually it was Blaydon. Otley were awarded a scrum near the Blaydon line but

a well-timed eight-man shove denied them possession. The ball was whipped out

to the Blaydon full-back, but he hesitated to kick and was tackled over the

line for a five-meter scrum. This time, Otley made sure the ball came out

rapidly and the pack set up a dynamic rolling maul. The ball was slipped out to

Barker, coming up swiftly in fine anticipation. He took the pass well and

barged over the line, in a manner befitting a back-row forward playing out of

position . The conversion again failed, but there was now some daylight between

Otley and their opponents as the score moved to 24-12. 

 

Otley now had their tails up and mounted a vigorous

challenge. A fine and fluid move of passing and running rugby at its best ended

with some neat inter-passing between Ollie Stedman and James Twomey, culminating

in Twomey sprinting over for a try. It was unconverted , but Otley now looked

out of sight at 29-12. Moreover, the bonus point had now been secured.

 

Otley played now in celebratory mood and

finished the match off with another piece of  fine flowing rugby, finalised by Ollie Denton

sending out a perfect pass to Curtis Wilson. Wilson, surely the greatest find

of the end of the season, celebrated his 18th birthday by going over

under the posts for a definitive score. The conversion was scored by Twomey (it

later transpired that Murray had split his boot in the move!) and the final

score was Otley 36, Blaydon 12.

 

This was a very commendable all-round

performance against very strong opponents. Special mention should, however, go

to the pack for the way they reorganised and soldiered on without their

inspirational leader Howard Parr. Also, special praise must be given to James

Murray for his excellent kicking game.

 

The relegation issue will go to the wire. But

both Cinderford and Newbury lost their matches and so Otley clearly have the

inside track. The very final, and decisive, match of the season will take place

at Cross Green next Saturday, 1st May, against friends, neighbours

and deadly rivals Wharfedale. The game should be gripping and – hopefully – the

celebrations hard and long. Tickets are available at a discount from the club,

but entry will also be available on the day. A big crowd is expected. Please

come along; it should be great.

 

Also, if you do come, bring plenty of spare

cash with you, because the club has kindly authorised a pre-match collection

for the Wheatfields Hospice.