Travelling up the dale to Otley's away match at Wharfedale provides probably the most beautiful rugby journey in Yorkshire (and therefore, by obvious implication, the known universe). Once inside Wharfedale's ground, The Avenue, at Threshfield, supporters can enjoy the most delightful rugby atmosphere outside of Cross Green. From the tiny main stand you can see over to Grass Wood and the karst scenery beyond, the Thorpe Reef Knolls (acknowledged as the most perfectly-formed in the world) and the grazing field leading north towards Kettlewell, with their lovely display of dry-stone walls. One of the dry-stone walls (doubtless uniquely in professional rugby) is only a foot or two away from the dead-ball line.

Due to spending last season in Division 1, Otley hadn't played here for two years, and it was nice to be back. There has always been fierce (but remarkably good-natured) rivalry between the two clubs and sets of supporters and once again local bragging rights were up for grabs. Inevitably, Otley attracted the Avenue's biggest crowd of the season and the atmosphere built up before the game, with everyone hoping for the traditional fare of hard and uncompromising but also flowing and open rugby. Otley were welcomed back fulsomely in the match programme notes, but with the unfathomable observation "no-one in these parts could work out why they were so ambitious, becayse it was clear that their tenure up there (division one) would be nothing more than a battle for survival." However, Otley's "ambition fixation" was focused for the day on beating Wharfedale.

The match started at a fast and furious pace with the first try-scoring opportunity going to (and being bungled by) Otley. For the first quarter, Otley strove successfully to gain a slight domination in the forwards - one they just about maintained throughout the match. From about the tenth minute onwards, the teams and spectators were treated to a virtuoso display of whitle-blowing from the referee, one Mr Llyr. Apgeraint Roberts, no less. Mr Roberts coul hardly bear the idea of a ruck proceeding without a penalty being awarded. Whenever the ball went to ground for a ruck, there would be an inevitable penalty for either holding fown or failing to release and when Wharfedale failed to release, Otley were penalised for holdign down. Otley's captain, Howard Parr, frequently asked for an expanation for the penalties and it seemed from his demeanour that he was a little bemused and unhappy about some of the decisions.

However, in the first 25 minutes the teams swapped penalty goals and the score stood at 3-3. James Murray returned to the Otley team at stand off and equaliswed from the lead given Wharfedale by his opposite number, Joesph ford.

In the 30th minute came what turned out to be the crucial moment of the match: Otley has wasted another try-scoring opportunity; Wharfedale counter-attacked and secured another penalty for an arcane ruck infirngement. The penalty shot at goal missed, but the clearance kick was returned straight to a Wharfedale player. The ball came to Ford, who placed an excellent punt into the corner that was well gathered by winger Horsfall who went over for a very good try. Ford converted and the core stood at 10-3 to Wharfedale. One penalty goal each completed the first half scoring and the teams returned to the dressing rooms with the score at 13-6.

In the second half, Wharfedale always looked the more confident team - steadier, reliable and considerably more menacing with ball in hand. Ford constantly bossed the game with sound tactical kicking and good ball distribution to his three-quarter line. The penalties kept coming and so did the penalty goals, but now Otley were getting some of the decisions in their favour. Murray converted two of the goal-scoring chances and pulled the score back to 13-9. Otley looked in with a chance.

However, Wharfedale benefited from the penalties for a series of breaches of ruck offences to which Mr Roberts was privy and they edged ahead to 16-9, then 19-9 and finally 22-9. Otley tried to attack the Wharfedale line but to little effect.

On the evidence of three league games, it seems we can rely on the Otley backs to do two things -create a lot of scoring opprtunities and then proceed to squander them. There were several times when chances went begging due to bad handling and or/decision-making under pressure. Sometimes it seemed the Otley players had decided that to score near the dey-stone wall would constitute a breah of Section 7 of the Health and Safety at Work Act! The match ended with Otley attacking, but with the score at 22-9 to Wharfedale. It had not been the free-flowing game we had hoped for, but there can be little doubt that the better team on the day had won. Congratulations to Whafedale; see you at Cross Green in the New Year when we hope to reverse the result.