Coventry 47

Otley 41

THERE was all the excitement and drama you might expect from this high-scoring game, six tries for Coventry to five from Otley, all converted by Simon Binns from all angles.

The Midlanders, anxious to reclaim their former glory, are no strangers to the transfer market, though their latest signing, Zin Zan Brooke, is not yet match-fit and they expect their present team to challenge for promotion.

Their recent win at Worcester has enhanced that wish so it was understandable that their anxiety during the final ten minutes, when Otley almost stole the game, was plain to see.

Coventry were first to figure when given a free-kick 30 metres out and No 7 Jon Koloi charged over for full-back Martyn Davies to convert. He touched down again three minutes later following a forward drive.

Otley reacted in typical fashion, Ian Shuttleworth, restored at full-back, joined the line at great pace to jink his way through.

A penalty, given for killing the ball, allowed Binns to bring the score to 12-10 but Otley were caught off-side twice in quick succession, allowing Davies to stretch the lead. Binns was on target again before the break when Mr Ashton-Jones saw a Coventry hand working in a ruck.

The home side swapped their entire front row at half-time and they paid the consequences when they lost their put-in at the first scrum.

Andy Brown's quick pass gave Binns a chance to attack and he strode through a couple of tackles to touch down.

His conversion gave Otley the lead for the first time.

It was not for long. Another penalty for Davies was followed by a converted try when the Otley scrum was wheeled, giving away possession, and the ball was moved wide, centre George Truelove scoring.

Worse was to follow when, whilst defending desperately, Coventry created a turnover near their line and swept away the other end, second row and skipper Mark Tinnock completing the move for Davies to convert.

Now 35-20 down it was time for action and Otley replied with a try by prop Ronnie Kelly from a drive, the result of a penalty kicked into the corner.

But a poor clearing kick was run back and there was a hint of weak tackling before centre Simon Brocklehurst raced through to score for Coventry.

Man-of-the-Match for Otley Phil Griffin then produced one of his characteristic charges through the midfield defence and he found James Tiffany in support to finish off.Coventry would not lie down, and winger Kurt Johnson got his name on the score sheet.

With ten minutes remaining Otley resolve came to the fore, helped when the influential Koloi, who had taken his try tally to eight for the season, was yellow-carded on 75 minutes. But all they could muster was a second try for Kelly in a similar fashion to his first.

l On Saturday Otley entertain Worcester with a 3 pm kick-off. Robert Whatmuff gets a start in the centre but Mark Kirby is on the replacement bench.