Otley........................16

WATERLOO.............15

OTLEY secured their second successive win since promotion to National Division One despite having to put out a depleted side.

They went into this game without line-out specialist Paul Williams who had to have an emergency appendix operation. Their situation was compounded in the 34th minute when they lost hooker Duncan Sayers who was replaced by rising youngster Andrew Tindall - a cousin of England's Mike.

A tremendous second-half defensive display kept Otley ahead and they deservedly picked up the points.

Otley failed to cash in on their first-half supremacy due to dropped passes and hanging on to the ball too long. Rob Whatmuff made two scintillating breaks which should have produced better results but after 23 minutes all they had to show for their efforts were two well struck penalties from fly-half James Lofthouse who has taken over the kicking mantle of Dan Clappison.

After the second penalty a deep re-start was not cleared and with referee Mr Fox strict on releasing in the tackle Otley fell foul and and a penalty under the posts provided an easy kick for Waterloo's fly-half Phil Belgian.

Lofthouse however eased Otley further ahead with his third penalty and this was followed by a dramatic try which had the crowd buzzing.

A mix-up between Waterloo centres Ball and Davies saw the ball go loose and Otley winger Tom Lauriston fly kicked it through for Mark Kirkby to race in and pick up and run at speed the 40 metres to the line. When the defence closed in he stepped up a gear and flew past them to touchdown for Lofthouse to convert from wide out.

At 16-3 Otley looked on the way to a comfortable victory but once again they allowed their opponents to score. Waterloo felt that their salvation would come through their pack and on 40 minutes a five metre line-out following a penalty saw hooker Matt Holt driven over. Belgian added the conversion.

Otley still threatened in the second-half but when Belgian failed to convert a try from Waterloo flanker Chris Wolfenden this meant that Otley had only a one point advantage to defend.

This they did to maintain a lofty position just one point behind leaders Worcester, the bonus points system making the difference as both have won two games out of two.

A reversed penalty left them defending yet another five metre line-out and this they did and they were always able to cover any mini-breaks by the active Waterloo back row but they were still unable to convert their obvious ascendency in the backs. A misunderstanding in midfield saw a certain try go begging.

The storm was ridden and it was then the turn of the visitors to defend. A penalty into the corner saw skipper Peter Curtis, again setting a magnificent example, set up a drive from the throw-in which brought about a penalty which was struck wide by Lofthouse. With two minutes to go Lofthouse hit the upright from 40 metres with another attempt.

Waterloo were now defending frantically and when Lofthouse again had a penalty chance an enquiry to the referee elicited the information that the match would finish at the next dead ball so he wisely kicked the ball into touch.

Steve Hudson, who replaced Williams, steadied the pack against solid opposition.

Otley.- Hawkins; Lauriston, Whatmuff, Billington, Kirkby; Lofthouse, Brown; Hardcastle (Kelly 63 mins), Sayers (Tindall 34 mins), Hall, Curtis, Hudson (Judson 65 mins), Burke, Hargreaves, Denham.

Waterloo.- Worsfold; Harrison, Ball, Davies, Payne; Belgian, Morris; Reay, Holt, Dennehy, Newsham, Allica, Wolfenden, Smith (Mercer 63 mins), Blyth.

With Steve Rice (shoulder injury), Simon Smith (knee ligaments), Ryan Duckett (cartilege), Sam Gardner and Paul Williams all out injured and Ian Carroll not yet back from Australia Otley are stretched somewhat at the moment.

They do however hope to have skipper Phil Griffin and back row man Jonathan Skurr back in action on Saturday at home to Moseley.