With Otley and Cinderford the obvious rivals

for the third and final relegation spot, this was always going to be a “must

win” match. After Otley’s disappointing defeats at both Blackheath and Sedgley

Park, combined with Cinderford’s astonishing win at Cambridge, it became a

match Otley simply could not afford to lose.

 

From the start, nobody could have been in

doubt as to how much was at stake, as both teams went into each other hammer

and tongs. Otley dominated the opening exchanges but without converting

position and possession into points – a regular failing this season. In a rare

excursion into the Otley half, Cinderford were awarded a penalty and promptly

took a 3-0 lead. After 20 minutes Otley conceded a wholly unnecessary try.

Otley lost possession, Cinderford fly-kicked the ball towards the Otley line,

the ball was fumbled when it ought to have been cleared and a Cinderford man

nipped in to touch down. Otley were 8-0 down in a game they should have been winning.

 

Otley came back hard and put Cinderford under

considerable pressure for the rest of the first half. Alas no tries ensued, but

two penalty goals were scored by Bern Hough and so Otley went into the

half-time dressing room only 6-8 down. There was still all to play for in the

second half, and all knew that the stakes could hardly have been much higher.

 

Five minutes after the break, Otley took the

lead. Captain Howard Parr set up a good pass to Chris Walker who handed on to

centre James White who raced over for a good try near the posts. Unaccountably,

the usually reliable Hough missed the conversion, but Otley now led 11-8.

 

Both teams now fought even harder to gain

some sort of ascendency and the ferocity of the exchanges suggested that

something would soon have to give. Alas, it proved to be a late tackle by Otley

that broke the deadlock and Cinderford equalised  from the ensuing penalty. 

 

As the game entered its final quarter, Otley

were finding it difficult to withstand the pressure and on the 60th

minute, Cinderford regained the lead. A good passing movement created gaps in

the over-stretched Otley defence and Cinderford went over for a converted try.

Otley now trailed 11-18. Cinderford’s extra weight and experience were starting

to tell. However Otley never wilted and came back into the match with a penalty

goal in the 65th minute, bringing the score to 14-18.

 

With ten minutes left, it still looked either

side’s match, but then Otley cracked in defence, Cinderford were through for a

try and the game looked beyond Otley’s reach 

as Cinderford celebrated their 14-25 lead.

 

The young Otley team may have lacked size,

experience and even composure, but they never lacked determination and effort.

With only a few minutes left a fine move was finished off by James Twomey going

over for a good try, duly converted by Hough. Otley were pressing at the very

end and were understandably perplexed when the referee blew for full time just

as Otley were about to feed a mid-field scrum.

 

Thus Otley lost to their nearest rivals by

21-25. Relegation now looks probable. It may well take a minor miracle to avoid

the drop – but miracles do happen.

 

Next week Otley travel to Cambridge and then

there is the home game with Redruth. Alas, there will be no report on that match,

as I will be answering an even more important sporting call – cheering on

Ireland at Twickenham. But let’s hope Otley win.