Otley 58

CAMBERLEY 12

OTLEY produced a scintillating display of open rugby to completely outplay visitors Camberley, on a cold but sunny afternoon at Cross Green, on Saturday.

A crowd of more than 400 were treated to some brilliant running rugby by the Otley backs and some fine tackling by all the players. In this department veteran prop forward Steve Rice excelled and tackled the Camberley players with plenty of gusto.

In all Otley scored nine tries and all the threequarters and the full-back got on the scoresheet scoring six of the tries between them.

This win moved Otley nearer to winning the Jewson League Division One title, something they deserve in a season in which they have played some enterprising and wonderful rugby for which the coaching team can be proud.

Otley were dominant throughout, their backs, fullback Ryan Duckett, wingers Simon Smith and Mark Kirkby and centres Rob Whatmuff and Mark Billington were much too fast for their opposite numbers.

Mind you, although the scoreline suggests a one-side game, it was far from it for Camberley worked hard throughout and did not throw in the towel as Otley scored try after try.

They showed potential against an Otley side on a high and but for some good tackling the Otley scoreline would have been much bigger.

Camberley had two lively wingers in Barry Green and Rob Kama and some determined forwards. Had Otley relaxed at any time then Camberley could have been a threat.

In the line-outs locks Ian Carroll and Peter Curtis were in top form while No 8 Jonathan Burke had an outstanding game. He took on the opposition almost everytime he received the ball.

Veteran prop Steve Rice will no doubt be pleased he decided to play into the millennium. Against Camberley Rice had one of his best games.

Fly-half Dan Clappison's 13 points from five conversions and a penalty brought his number of points to 225 for the season. He went close with four other conversion attempts, one of which, hit the left post.

Within 14 minutes of play Otley had taken a 19-0 points lead which shook the visitors.

Full-back Ryan Duckett made a break down the right and looked certain to score in the right corner but he became hemmed in and the ball was recycled.

Following a movement across the field Duckett suddenly appeared on the scene again and this time he ran in hard for a try near the left post which gave fly-half Clappison an easy conversion (five minutes).

Within four minutes left-winger Mark Kirkby raced home for a try on the left following a good move initiated by scrum-half Andy Brown. Clappison hit the left post with his conversion attempt.

Then in the 14th minute No 8 Jonathan Burke, a tower of strength in the pack, forced his way over from a ruck near Camberley's line after lock Ian Carroll had won the ball in a line-out. Clappison added the goal points to give Otley a 19-0 lead.

At this stage Camberley got into the act when a swift threequarter movement involving skipper Brad Kane saw left-winger Rob Kama show a good turn of speed to score a fine try in the 20th minute. Fly-half Rob Smart just missed with the conversion kick.

In the 25th minute a long pass found Simon Smith and the right-winger had no difficulty in scoring Otley's fourth try.

Clappison missed a difficult kick from the right touch-line but added the goal points to centre Rob Whatmuff's try in the 22nd minute to give Otley a comfortable 31-5 lead.

Otley's powerful flanker Lafaele Filipo added to Otley's score when he forced his way over for a try in the 40th minute. Clappison converted and the first-half ended with Otley leading 38-5.

Within four minutes of the re-start Clappison kicked a penalty for Otley and then in the 55th minute Brown and Filipo were replaced by scrum-half Peter Wright and John Skurr, the Ireland Under-21 international.

Camberley also made a couple of changes when prop Gary Waters and fly-half Smart were replaced in the 55th minute by Simon Bayliff and Phil Joyce.

Within three minutes Skurr had scored a try. In the 62nd minute Otley made another replacement when Ronnie Kelly came on for prop David Hall, who had worked extremely hard.

Skipper Brad Kane scored Camberley's second try which he converted in the 64th minute.

However, Otley had not finished their scoring and centre Mark Billington and winger Mark Kirkby scored tries in the 75th and 77th minutes respectively. Clappison converted Kirkby's try to give Otley a well deserved victory.

Flanker Graham Flemming replaced Gary Francs for Camberley.

The referee was Mr R Glyne-Jones (RFU).

This was Otley's second biggest league win of the season. They defeated Blackheath 103-3 in December.

Otley have a re-arranged game against Manchester at Cross Green on Saturday. With no game having been scheduled Dan Clappison, Jon Burke and David Hall had all made prior arrangements and so are unavailable.

Coming into Clappison;s fly-half berth is former Yorkshire Colt Ian Shuttleworth who signed this week from Wakefield. He is the son of former Yorkshire full-back Martin Shuttleworth.

Ian started out with the Sandal club but then moved on to Wakefield.

Saturday's match will kick-off at 1 pm to enable spectators to watch the England v Wales game on the big screen at Cross Green. This starts at 2.30 pm.

Otley's next league match is at Preston Grasshoppers on March 16.

A supporters' coach will leave the clubhouse at 10.30am and will return to Otley by 8pm.

The fare is £12 and those wishing to travel should contact Keith Carroll on 0113-2503033.

The Grasshoppers ground is at Lightfoot Green, Fulwood.

Otley are at home to Reading on March 18 (3pm) before they travel to Fylde on March 25.

The next pre-match lunch is to be held at 1pm on Saturday, March 18 when Reading visit Cross Green. The cost is £10 per head.

An additional home fixture has been arranged with Doncaster for April1 1.

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