Otley gain revenge over Reading

FOUR tries by Samoan No 8 Lafaele Filipo paved the way for Otley's biggest win of the season when they entertained Reading in a Jewson League Division One match at Cross Green on Easter Saturday, writes Barrie Pennett.

Mind you it wasn't a one-man show as Otley turned on a superb team and handling display in the second-half which brought them 35 points without reply.

Reading just did not have an answer to Filipo, who with a bit of fortune could well have had at least two more tries. Whenever he got the ball he was a danger and it was not surprising that he scored in the 33rd, 46th and 65th minutes. His last try, however, was an Easter gift from his colleagues, three of whom could have scored themselves, but fly-half Dan Clappison, lock Paul Williams and centre Robert Whatmuff all unselfishly handed on to Filipo when they each had the line at their mercy.

In all Otley scored 10 tries, eight of which were converted by Dan Clappison, who really had to be at his best kicking form with Otley's former full-back and goalkicker, Peter Rutledge, sitting in the stand.

Although Reading were somewhat depleted, Otley nevertheless deserved to maintain their unbeaten home league record this season. The only point they have dropped at home was to Harrogate, who held them to a 12-12 draw in February.

They also gained an emphatic revenge for the 26-25 defeat they suffered at Reading in December.

Otley were adventurous in this match and their backs tried all sorts of moves. As the game gradually went their way Otley's confidence grew and they simply ran at pace and moved the ball swiftly. Early in the game their handling was a little suspect and they occasionally lost possession when tackled.

Their tackling was sound and left winger Simon Smith, full-back Simon Hawkins and flanker Jonathan Burke stopped Reading's players in their tracks with some hard tackling round the legs. Smith was unfortunate not to get on the score sheet for he deserved a try.

Otley's other winger Sam Gardner should have added to his first-half try when he was flying for the Reading line. Instead of going hard for the line Gardner hesitated and was caught when, if he had kept going, he would undoubtedly have scored a try.

While the win was a happy one for skipper and flanker Neil Hargreaves it was also a sad afternoon for he was making his last home appearance as Otley's skipper, although the club is trying to persuade him into another season.

During the early stages of the match play was a little scrappy and it wasn't until the 26th minute that Otley broke the deadlock when lock Paul Williams touched down. Clappison's conversion kick hit the right post.

Reading winger Nick Brooks made a great break but lacked support.

Then in the 30th minute right-winger Bruce Rowlands went in for a try which was converted by centre Jerry Casteloe, to give the visitors a 5-7 lead.

Reading's joy was short lived for Filipo scored his first try which was converted by Clappison. Williams (38 mins) and Gardner (44 mins) added to Otley's first-half score. Both tries were converted by Clappison.

The second-half was one-way traffic for Otley and tries came from Filipo in the (46th, 58th and 65th mins), replacement scrum-half Andy Brown (61 mins and in the fourth minute of injury time) and Phil Griffin (68 mins). Clappison converted five of the tries.

Filipo has now scored 15 tries this season with scrum-half Gary Cassidy and winger Sam Gardner with seven tries each.

Dan Clappison is the club's leading points scorer with 141.

Otley's final league match of the season is at Newbury on April 17. Then on April 24 they travel to Wagon Lane, Bingley to meet Bradford and Bingley in a club match.

Otley are without a match on Saturday.

Otliensians.................................15

Otley Saracens...........................48

THE home club had arranged their players' reunion for this annual derby game and a large crowd basked in the summer conditions.

Otliensians are having a difficult time with an ever-lengthening injury list, while Saracens are in the middle of a good run, with a fine balance of youth and experience.

The home side were compelled to make late changes, Daren Hardie and Mark Stevens replacing Steve Wilson and Richard Smith who were unavailable.

Dave Lennie came into the centre for Prepal Bachra, who had a hamstring problem.

However, Otliensians always raise their game for their visitors from up the road.

After the initial sounding out, it was Saracens who settled the quicker and started to gain the edge in the forward battle.

With a base established, they started to spread the ball and with Ryan Duckett joining the line from full-back, Otliensians' defence was stretched as Saracens ran in three tries by half-time. Chris Quinn converted one before he had to leave the field with a leg injury.

Otliensians were playing with spirit and hit back with a converted try engineered by Peter Gillson and scored by David Lennie, converted by David Smith, who also kicked a penalty to make it 17-10.

Saracens continued to have the edge on the restart and stretched the lead with a converted try but Otliensians bounced back and after a spell of pressure, squeezed in at the corner, an excellent try for Anthony Collins.

It was apparent that the superior fitness and pace of Otley was beginning to tell in the strength-sapping conditions and with Mark Billington orchestrating things at fly-half, Saracens ran in four more tries in the last quarter to seal a good win against an Otliensians side which never gave up.

Saracens tries went to Mark Billington (3), Ryan Duckett (2), Tim Appleton, Chris Davidson (2). Conversions Duckett (2), Billington, Quinn.

Otley Tongans......................55

Otliensians 'A'.....................14

Tongans continued their recent good form with a good win over Otliensians Second XV, hitting the visitors with a purple patch of superb 15-man rugby in the opening 15 minutes to run in three tries through Craig Jackson (2), and Adie Midgeley, all converted by Dominic Kershaw.

The Tongans pack, containing four colts, was on top in the loose and Otley should have increased their lead but over elaboration, plus good defence by Otliensians, meant there was no addition to the score until the final minute of the first-half, when a good handling move was completed by Tim Westlake-Bryant and converted by Kershaw to make it 28-0 at half-time.

Otliensians came out with all guns blazing on the re-start and skipper Brett Tenniswood, who was their best player, powered through to go over under the posts.

Tongans hit back with two tries by skipper Nick Girling before Otliensians were awarded a penalty try for obstruction near the line and they finished strongly, Craig Jackson completing good support play when others were flagging in the heat. Kershaw added one further conversion.

Otliensians stuck to their task to the end with their scrummaging causing the Tongans problems but Viscounts scrum-half Richard Hall gave a good service with scrappy possession.

Otliensians 'B'.........................8

Otley Viscounts.....................34

Viscounts completed a good day for the club with a competent win over Otliensians Third XV.

The win was based on a solid performance by the pack and with Charles Bowling showing some nice touches, they were leading 17-0 at half-time.

Viscounts stretched their lead on the restart but Otliensians kept going and reduced the arrears with a try from Abdy Walton and a penalty from Neil Moore.

But a further score for Viscounts sealed the win. Veteran flanker John Nixon filled in well as an emergency scrum-half.

Try scorers for Viscounts were Charles Bowling (2), David Airey and Jamie Chappell. The latter also kicked four conversions and two penalties.

Ex-players return for reunion

MORE than 40 former Old Otliensians players made the trip to Chaffer's Field on Saturday for the reunion.

They included eight of the Yorkshire Shield winning side of 1959 - Tony Thornton (capt), Stan Thorpe, Peter Swann, Fred Dawson, John Churchman, Noel Fortune, Stuart Smith and Jeff Vickers, who played in every game up to, but not including the final, unfortunately he was taken ill shortly before.

The oldest member present was Bill Hickson, from Bramhope, who was 91, who played in the original Otliensians side in 1928.

The members were welcomed by club president Adrian Normanton, who said it had been a difficult season both for results and for serious injury. But he said he hoped that next year the club would bounce back to regain their Yorkshire One status.

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