Manchester 18

Otley 9

OTLEY have never won a league game at Manchester but the recent form of the two sides prompted the opinion that this year was the one to set the record straight.

After losing a close game to Exeter the previous week, hopes were high. But Manchester had other ideas.

Otley's cause wasn't helped by the refereeing of Argentinian Pablo Deluca who is due to take charge of a Six Nations international at Murrayfield on Saturday.

The visitors fell foul of the official's desire to keep play flowing and in the second half they yielded a string of penalties.

Otley performed extremely well in the first half. Facing a stiff breeze, they had reason to be satisfied at going in only 7-6 down at the break.

They were left to rue one awful defensive blunder which enabled full back Simon Verbickas to race in for a try.

Verbickas certainly enjoys playing against Otley. Back in 1994 he scored five tries in a match for Sale against the Cross Green outfit.

Verbickas also added the conversion but he did miss two rather simple penalty opportunities.

Phil Greaves endured a painful afternoon. He had to spend 30 minutes on the sidelines after suffering a cut head after being clattered by a heavy tackle when he chased his own kick ahead.

All Otley's points came from the boots of Simon Binns.

He kicked two first half penalties before seeing another kick strike an upright after home prop Damien Rawlinson became one of four players to be yellow carded by Mr Deluca.

A third penalty by Binns early in the second half saw Otley take the lead 9-8 but they were unable to drive on and take command.

Despite being a man short in the pack, Manchester dominated the forward battle.

When Rawlinson returned they promptly lost flanker David Wilks while Otley didn't know where to turn when the yellow card was brandished at first Matt Holmes and Dennis Hazelton in the final ten minutes.

Verbickas restored the home side's lead in the 48 minute with a penalty and much-travelled scrum half Ricky Pellow added a try from a tapped penalty.

Manchester would have ran out more comfortable winners if they had somebody of the calibre of their former goal-kicking ace Steve Swindells in their ranks.

Fly half Peter Murphy squandered a number of kicks before, after a few sighters, he found the target after 73 minutes. The kick raised ironic cheers from the home supporters as it denied Otley a bonus point.

This weekend Otley are without a match and that gives them the opportunity to recharge their batteries in readiness for their clash with Bedford at Cross Green on March 15.