It’s always a pleasure

to welcome Wharfedale and their amiable supporters to Cross Green.

The local derby always makes for a splendid occasion and spectators

can usually expect an attractive game from a club traditionally

committed to open and positive rugby. This encounter, however, had an

added dimension as Otley went into this final match of the season

still in the frame for relegation. Before the match Otley stood 6

points ahead of Cinderford (who have 2 games in hand) and 2 above

Newbury. An Otley victory (or a Newbury defeat) would ensure

survival. The position with Cinderford was a little more complex. But

the crucial factor was that Otley’s fate now lay in their own

hands. After the home defeat to Cindeford back in February, they

looked doomed to go down. But since then, a series of victories -

some of them quite astonishing – has seen the club on the brink

of safety.

As expected, a big crowd

gathered for this crucial encounter and the atmosphere was stirring.

Incidentally, the reaction of the Otley club to the anticipated large

crowd was to reduce

the entrance price! Has no one on the Committee passed ‘O’ Level

Economics? Did Adam Smith really philosophise in vain?

Otley were at full

strength, apart from the omission of Howard Parr, who hadn’t

recovered from last week’s knee injury. It was a great pity for

Parr to miss the final match. He has proved to be a splendid captain,

inspiring his charges by both word and deed. Whilst he has never

accepted less than 100% effort and commitment, he has always seemed

to know just how to motivate his team to play with focus and

determination.

The first half proved to

be a hard and even struggle with both teams going hell-for-leather

for the opposing try-line. Crucially, Otley failed to take advantage

of an extra man whilst Wharfdale’s Solomi was in the sin bin for

obstruction. However, Wharfedale went in at the break with a

deserved, but precarious, 4 point advantage.

It was still anybody’s

game until Wharfedale stretched their lead with an excellent

converted try in the 46th

minute. Their skillful 18 year old scrum half, Philip Woodhead sold

an outrageous dummy, executed a fine side step and made a devastating

change of pace to go over near the posts. Woodhead was clearly the

man of the match, scoring two tries and making two more. He looks a

great prospect for the future.

Both teams tried to play

open attacking rugby; only one of them really succeeded and, alas, it

wasn’t Otley. The Wharfedale defence proved almost impregnable.

Their positioning and discipline were excellent and their tackling

firm and effective. Otley just couldn’t find a way through.

However, Otley did mange two tries from close in, going to Adam

Blades and Richard Beck.

Wharfedale ended up worthy

winners at 35-18. There can be no serious doubt that the better team

on the day won. However, early in the second half, we all knew that

Otley were safe from relegation. Newbury lost their game ,which had

kicked off earlier at Sedgely Park: thanks very much Park – my soft

spot for you is confirmed!

However, no objective

observer could be satisfied with this situation. As it happened,

Newbury’s defeat consigned them to relegation irrespective of

Otley’s performance. But what if Newbury had gained 2 or 3 points

from their game? Otley would have had the unfair advantage of going

into the crucial last quarter of their game knowing exactly what they

needed to do and exactly what they had to avoid. Rugby Union

authorities allow this unfairness at all levels – most notoriously

when on the final day of the 6 Nations Ireland kicked off against

Italy hours earlier than France played Scotland, an anomaly that

effectively robbed Ireland of the championship and gifted it to

France. That Otley happened to benefit is irrelevant; this should

never be allowed to occur again.

The match, and indeed the

season, ended on a very sad and anxious note. Otley scrum half

Stephen Depledge was laid unconscious after a ruck. Wharfedale and

Otley medical teams rapidly came to his aid was. The referee sensibly

blew for full-time. Depledge was taken away in an ambulance. The good

news is that he has been discharged from hospital and is expected to

make a full recovery. He has had a fine season and played throughout

with skill, zest and courage. He was a worthy winner of the Player of

the Year award announced after the game.

Otley have thoroughly

deserved to stay up. Their free flowing passing rugby has been a joy

to watch. The team has gelled together well and individual players

have developed hugely and visibly over the year. If this team can be

kept together, next season should see Otley competing at the other

end of the table. The truth is that neither Newbury nor Cinderford

deserved to be relegated either. The learning point for the RFU is

that three relegations from this division is one too many: but we

have all come to understand what the RFU habitually does with leaning

points!

For now, let’s just

reflect on the many stirring moments of this season and look forward

to the next one.

One final point about

Saturday’s match; the club authorised a collection for the Sue

Ryder Care - Wheatfields Hospice in Headingly and £272 was

raised; many thanks go to the generosity of both sets of fans.

Patrick McCauley.