LYDNEY 10

Otley 3

LYDNEY gained revenge for their 37-3 defeat at Cross Green three weeks ago when they took the points in this latest encounter.

They found the answer lay in containing the Otley pack after being given the runaround by the Cross Green men for the opening 20 minutes.

Otley were unable to breach a solid defence despite a confident display by their backs in the first quarter.

Gradually the home side started to dominate proceedings and they took the lead in the 37th minute. Prop Nick Bartlett was driven over from a line-out, replacement Noel Kilby made the catch for No 7 Paul Price to touchdown and full-back Nick Paisley added the conversion points.

Lydney re-shuffled at the start of the second-half with Scott Edwards, just having returned to the club from Coventry, taking over from skipper Mark Nicholls and he was influential in snuffing out any Otley comeback.

Otley fell further behind in the 57th minute when Paisley kicked a penalty.

Otley fly-half Simon Hawkins kicked a penalty on the re-start to rekindle Otley hopes but Lydney dug deep and thwarted a side that has caused them so much trouble in the earlier encounter.

Otley.- Duckett; Smith, Billington, Hartley, Thornton; Hawkins, Cassidy; Halligan, Sayers (Merkin 70 mins), Hall, Carroll, Williams, Griffin (Burke 65 mins), Hargreaves, Filipo.

Over the holiday period Otley are due to face their old foes Morley at Cross Green on Boxing Day kicking-off at 2.15 pm.

Mark Billington is not expected to be fit after injuring an ankle in last Saturday's league game at Lydney.

However on the plus front Steve Rice returns to the squad after a five week absence with a head injury and Will Darby also returns after sustaining a neck injury.

The squad for the Morley game is - Duckett, Smith, Billington, Hartley, Thornton, Hawkins, Cassidy, Halligan, Sayers, Merkin, Hall, Carroll, Williams, Griffin, Burke, Hargreaves, Filipo, Langley, Simon Henry, Rice, Gardner, Darby.

It is expected that coach Mike Barnett will receive his Jewson Coach- of- the -Month Award at the Boxing Day game.

There will also be a ceremonial civic visit from the Lord Mayor of Leeds - Otley-based Graham Kirkland.

Th Morley game is followed by a tough visit to Henley on January 2.

Henley currently lie just above Otley in second place in the Jewson National One league table having won 12 of their 14 games - the same as leaders Manchester.

Third placed Otley have won nine of their 14 games while lowly Morley - occupying second bottom spot - have won just four of their 13 games.

Otley have so far scored 262 league points and conceded 212.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.