Otley scrape home

CAMBERLEY 18

OTLEY, who looked to be coasting home to a comfortable win during the first-half of this Jewson League Division One match at Cross Green last Saturday, just managed to scrape home in the end.

They completely dominated the first-half due to some determined forward play and some strong running by the backs to give them a 22-3 lead at half-time.

On resuming Camberley dictated play for most of the half and scored 15 points without reply.

Otley managed to hang on to the final whistle which was blown by Mr E Woodmason (RFU), after playing four minutes of injury time.

This win means Otley had gained the double over Camberley, who were promoted from Division Two (south) last season.

The scoreline was the same as in the match at Camberley.

Otley must not allow their play to drop once they have established a comfortable lead and should really capitalise on their superiority.

They really only have themselves to blame for their lapse after the interval.

They should have been prepared to take the game to Camberley early on, upset them and then pile on the points.

What happened was that Camberley took the game to Otley, pressured them and after a somewhat fortunate penalty try, which resulted in seven points being added to a penalty awarded four minutes earlier, the visitors regained their confidence and could have won the game.

Otley had a tendency to give too much ball away due to some inaccurate kicking for touch.

The ball was often picked up by opposing players who made good use of it.

Another mystery was as the minutes were ticking away towards the end of the match Otley, when awarded a penalty, and elected to kick for touch when well placed for a kick at goal.

Had they decided to take the kick at goal and had it been successful it would have given Otley three points to put them seven points in front.

This would have meant Camberley then had to score a converted try to earn a draw.

At the same time it would have taken some time to set up the kick at goal and the kick-off again.

When Otley found touch all Camberley had to do was win the subsequent line-out and move the ball out quickly to give them a chance of scoring.

As it happened Otley held out for their win.

A crowd of about 400 braved the cold weather and saw Otley take the lead in the 11th minute.

Scrum-half Gary Cassidy whipped out a quick ball to Sam Gardner, who handed on to Robert Whatmuff.

The young centre, back for his first full game after a lengthy lay-off through injury, sped through the Camberley defence to score between the posts.

Fly-half Dan Clappison added the goal points to give Otley a 7-0 lead.

At this stage the visitors, particularly James Winterbottom, were taking some good ball from the line-outs. Camberley pulled back three points in the 18th minute when fly-half Guy Gregory kicked a penalty after Otley prop David Hall had been caught offs-ide.

Clappison hit a post with a penalty kick for Otley (23 mins) and then Gardner finished off an Otley move with a try in the 24th minute.

The Otley right-winger ran hard for the line leaving the visiting backs helpless. Clappison was wide with the conversion but landed a penalty in the 36th minute to put Otley 15-3 ahead.

Flanker Phil Griffin made one of his powerful runs, handed on to the supporting Gardner, who gave to No 8 Lafaele Filipo and the strong Samoan went in for his ninth try of the season (41 mins).

Clappison converted to give Otley a comfortable 22-3 lead at the interval.

On resuming Camberley attacked the Otley line and speedy right-winger Bruno Green looked dangerous.

In the 44th minute Gregory landed a penalty for the visitors and then four minutes later they were awarded a penalty try to bring the score to 22-13.

By now Otley had become a little unsettled and were perhaps nervous but they managed to keep Camberley out.

Had Clappison not missed a penalty in the 59th minute then Otley's fears would undoubtedly have been over.

As it happened Camberley, with their spirits still high, hit back with a try from centre Gavin Thompson (63 mins).

Fortunately for Otley Gregory could not add the goal points and he also missed a penalty kick in the 78th minute.

Otley's front row of David Hall, Duncan Sayers and Steve Rice was quite solid.

Clappison's tally took him to 97 points for the season.

Veteran prop Steve Rice has now made 152 league appearances for the club.

Rice joined Otley from Otliensians in 1986 and he is the only Otley player to have played league rugby for the club in all 12 seasons of the English Clubs Championship.

Simon Hawkins, the Otley fly-half or full-back, who broke his arm at Henley on January 2, expects to be out of action for several weeks.

On Saturday Otley travel to Nottingham who currently lie in ninth place to Otley's thiird in Jewson One.

Forward Paul Williams is back in the squad while there are changes on the replacement bench as the secondstring players are rotated.

Young Robert Whatmuff continues his rehabilitation after scoring a try against Camberley linking up again with Wayne Hartley in the centre.

Another player who has come up through the Otley junior system, Sam Gardner, retains his place on the wing.

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