WAKEFIELD.............22

Otley....................33

OTLEY'S travelling army were delighted with their team's performance at College Grove on Saturday when they opened their campaign in Allied Dunbar Two.

Otley were well supported with around half the crowd being Cross Green faithful and they were looking forward to the game after three successful warm-up games.

Wakefield found their visitors in no mood to buckle to their big, expensively assembled pack and until the last four minutes of the game, when Wakefield fought back to score 12 points, they were given the runaround in the loose as well as being held in the set pieces.

Otley coach Peter Clegg showed faith with his championship winning side and despite having five of them unavailable had only one new boy in Lee Denham in the starting line-up. However, three others in Guy Hope, Adam Pogson and James Lofthouse were to play their part in the win.

Denham more than adequately filled the boots of the departed Lafaele Filipo.

Otley's first attack followed the capture of a home throw in and Andy Brown's high kick resulted in a penalty which was knocked over by Dan Clappison. Otley were however soon called upon to defend as a Wakefield midfield break almost brought results.

As confidence began to grow Mark Billington was held just short from a scrum. Brown set up a blind side attack and was on hand to take an inside pass, throw a dummy and pivot over the line for a fine score.

With Mark Kirkby and home full-back Mike Cawthorn lying on the ground after a clash of heads Clappison's kick ahead was gathered and spun across field where Tom Laureston raced into the home 22. Although gis inside pass missed Billington Brown was there to fly-kick the ball ahead and go in under the posts for Clappison to convert.

Two minutes before the break replacement Neil Summers joined the line from full-back to cross for Wakefield making it 5-15 at half-time.

Otley had the benefit of the slope in the second-half and soon made it pay. A clean catch at a throw-in 22 metres out was driven effortlessly to the line - much to the disbelief of the home supporters. They regained a little heart however when Wakefield winger Andy Metcalfe crossed in the corner.

Otley hit back and ran in 13 points in a five minute spell. James Lofthouse kicked a 50 metre penalty, Mark Kirkby snapped up a loose ball when scrum-half Alex Birkby was dispossessed and outstripped the defence and then a move started 70 metres out when Laureston fielded a kick ahead ended with Denham going in at the corner making it 33-10.

Wakefield fought back to gain a bonus point with tries from Summers and Tom Rhodes, who also converted one.

For their home game with Waterloo on Saturday Otley have selected - S Hawkins; T Lauriston, M Billington, R Whatmuff, M Kirkby; J Lofthouse, A Brown; D Hardcastle, D Sayers, D Hall, P Curtis, P Williams, J Burke, L Denham, N Hargreaves. Repl. D Clappison, P Wright, W Darby, R Kelly, A Tindall, I Spence, J Lester. (Kick-off 3 pm).

Saracens, at Watererloo - J Henry; R Leighton, S Manson, P Maynard, J Bennett; W Foster, G Cassidy; C Burns, S Poole, A Pogson, S Hudson, D Leggett, G Tasker, J Skurr, I Judson. Repl. R Simpson, R Bush, M Hainsworth. (Meet at 11.30 am).

Tongans, for match to be arranged, from - A Campbell, M Dracup, I Westlake-Bryant, A Edson, A Midgeley, C Jackson, A Hogg, J Thompson, M Birch, S Kershaw, S Elazab, C Minchella, D Setterington, R Malir, S Henry, G Mitchell, N Hyde, N Girling, M Walker.