FYLDE..................23

Otley..................17

OTLEY, who have already gained promotion to National League Division Two, will have to wait a little longer before they know whether they will be Jewson League Division One champions.

They had a set-back last Saturday when they were well beaten by Fylde at Ansdell Road.

The kick-off was delayed until 3.10pm due to Otley's team coach arriving at the ground 10 minutes before the scheduled kick-off of 3pm. They had been delayed due to heavy traffic in the Preston area.

This was no excuse for their unexpected defeat - they beat Fylde 32-13 at Cross Green last September - because they started as they did the previous week against Reading at Cross Green. They allowed the opposition to dominate the first-half. However, Fylde were a different kettle of fish to Reading. They played with more determination throughout.

They established a lead and set their hearts on keeping it which they did even though Otley pressed them hard towards the end.

It is fair to say that Otley never really posed a threat to Fylde due to their many blunders, fumbling of the ball and losing it in the mauls. They played well below their normal high standard but having said that Fylde defended well and deserved their third successive win.

Otley, who are expected to receive £210,000 from the Rugby Football Union, will have to use some of the money to strengthen their squad if they are to survive in National League Two next season.

It was quite clear from the start that Fylde would be no push-over. They played with plenty of guts and were well led by Martin Scott, their skipper and hooker.

Most of the attendance of about 400 were Fylde supporters and they left the ground in a happy mood with the knowledge that Fylde's play was much improved.

Wingers Mark Kirkby and Simon Smith showed up well and scrum-half Andy Brown had yet another sound game. The pick of the forwards were Lafaele Filipo, who although well marked was a constant danger. Lock Paul Williams worked hard in the line-outs and won a share of the ball in this department.

Prop David Hall came in for veteran Steve Rice and played well until he had to leave the field with a leg injury.

Otley nearly took an easy lead when in the first minute left-winger Kirkby sped towards the Fylde line only to be well tackled.

Fylde opened the scoring in the fourth minute when right-winger Nick Booth landed a penalty. Their lead, however, was short-lived because seven minutes later an Otley threequarter move led to centre Robert Whatmuff cutting through the home defence to score a fine try under the posts.

Fly-half Dan Clappison added the goal points. Otley led-37 and looked like running away with the game. This, of course, did not happen and they allowed Fylde back into the game due to mistakes and fumbling of the ball.

They were twice let-off the hook when Fylde's right-winger Nick Booth missed with a couple of penalty kicks in the space of five-minutes.

Fylde, who had withstood some Otley pressure, took the lead in the 27th minute. Centre Richard Kenyon made the initial break and passed to left-winger Richard Wire.

Several Fylde players handled the ball before No 8 Mike Dayer went in for a try which was converted by Booth, who kicked a penalty two minutes later.

By now Fylde's tail was up and in the 39th minute they increased their lead further when Drayer, a lively forward, scored his second try (39 mins). Booth added the goal points to give the home side a 20-7 lead at half-time.

There was always a chance Otley could raise their game in the second-half but they suffered a further blow in the fourth minute of resuming when Booth kicked a penalty to give Fylde a 23-7 lead.

Fylde were now rampant and their forwards were pushing the Otley pack backwards in the loose mauls on a number of occasions.

Filipo was shown a yellow card for a dubious tackle on a Fylde player. Shortly afterwards prop David Hall passed to Filipo, who made a devastating run through the Fylde defence, scattering players before being stop by a number of Fylde players.

Otley were now putting Fylde under pressure and this resulted in right-winger Simon Smith scoring a try in the 57th minute for Clappison to convert.

With the scoreline at 23-14 Otley were now in with a chance of snatching victory from Fylde. Unfortunately Clappison missed two penalty kicks at goal in the 63rd and 72nd minutes one of which hit the right post and came out.

Prop Dean Hardcastle replaced Hall, who suffered a leg injury.

Fylde, who had not been in the Otley half for about 20 minutes launched an attack and Booth made a strong run down the right-wing.

He passed to Richard Kenyon, who handed on to David Wiseman, and the fly-half should really have scored a try but instead he dithered about and was eventually tackled.

Otley cut Fylde's lead in the 78th minute when Clappison landed a penalty.

With the score at 23-17 Otley pressed hard during the five minutes of injury time but were unable to add any further points.

This was a disappointing result for Otley but Fylde deserved their win.

Mike Wright, Otley's chairman of rugby, said he was disappointed with the result. "We spilled far too much ball and gave too much ball away. Fylde were very good in defence," he said.

"Hopefully we will win our last two games," he added.

Otley's nearest rival Birmingham and Solihull drew 21-21 at Newbury while third placed Wharfedale defeated Harrogate 22-14.

l Otley have a friendly against Doncaster at Cross Green on Saturday kicking-off at 3 pm and then entertain Bracknell at Cross Green on April 8 before travelling to Blackheath on April 15.

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