Otley 41 Rugby Lions 5

RUGBY Lions gave debuts to three more Premiership players on loan but even they failed to provide any inspiration to overcome an Otley side who won the game easily on the strength of their forwards.

It was an unhappy debut for Joshe Frappe from Gloucester and Dave Hilton and Martin Purdy, both from Wasps.

There was a minor hitch when, within an hour of kick-off referee Mr Beddow announced that he was unhappy with the clash of colours. Rugby had last played against Otley in orange but turned up at Cross Green in black and red which clashed with both the Otley strips.

A hurried call to Wharfedale RUFC saw Otley turn out in the Green Machine strip.

Otley's forwards drove and rucked well and made countless yards with well organised mauls, their obvious supremacy being well represented by the tries they created.

Having won their previous encounter at Rugby Otley were in no mood to concede a home defeat and they stepped straight into a most aggressive and workmanlike approach.

Their efforts were very quickly rewarded. A fine kick into the corner by returning fly-half Simon Binns was well chased by winger Will Darby and Rugby's full-back Matt Vines was forced to shuffle the ball into touch.

The confident Ian Carroll took the line-out throw and fellow second row man Jason Oakes completed the drive.

The conversion bounced back off the crossbar but Binns made no mistake with a penalty chance three minutes later.

The Lions' backs were also finding life tough and Otley No 7 Martin Anayi cut through to find Andy Brown on his shoulder when tackled and the scrum-half's long looping pass found winger Mark Kirkby who sped in at the corner.

Binns was not found wanting with the conversion.

Four minutes later Kirkby was over again, this time it was Darby on the opposite wing who created it with a 50 metre run before moving the ball inside and crisp passing put Kirkby in. Binns again converted from the touchline.

The Lions then had one of their few periods of dominance. A penalty kicked into the corner set them up and three times their efforts were stalled but finally their skipper Steve Smith was awarded a try near the posts.

For the second time in the game fly-half Jon Boden missed an easy kick with the conversion attempt.

The lead was soon extended after the break when a drive of fully 35 metres ended with Carroll breaking off to score.This time it was a simple conversion for Binns.

Otley then dropped down a gear and silly mistakes blunted their attack but when Binns put a penalty kick into the Rugby 22 they drove forward remorselessly.

Replacement Ronnie Kelly duly grounded the ball leaving Binns another difficult conversion which proved no problem.

This move was repeated on 80 minutes with another replacement Ian Clarke the benefactor.

Ian Shuttleworth had taken over the kicking duties but he was wide with his conversion attempt.

Otley rotated their squad in the closing stages with Phil Greaves coming on to replace Darby, Simon Hawkins for Binns, Chris Kendra for Brown, Duncan Sayers for Luffman, Ronnie Kelly for Hazelton, Ian Clarke for Carroll and Nathan Bland for Anayi.

by John Finch