Otley 23

ROSSLYN PARK 20

SUPERIORITY in the pack where Otley dominated the line-outs led them to gaining a narrow win over Rosslyn Park in a Jewson League Division One match at Cross Green on Saturday.

Otley needed to start the new season on a winning note but they made their supporters sweat right up to the final whistle. In the last two minutes of play - they played three minutes extra time - Otley gave away two penalties and fortunately for them Andy Maddock, who set a new club points record last season with 177 points, had left his kicking boots in London.

He missed what must were for him two easy kicks at goal in the first and second minutes of extra time.

This win over Rosslyn Park, who finished fifth in the league last season, was just the tonic Otley needed. They did not play particularly well in the first-half. In fact they were disjointed, a little sloppy and were not really together as a team. They seemed to need motivation and following a chat with assistant coach Peter Clegg at half-time, Otley played with more purpose and although at times towards the end of the match they looked vulnerable, they deserved their two points.

Otley have a good outfit but they need to blend. They had plenty of ball from the pack who dominated both the line-outs and the scrums. Locks Ian Carroll, now approaching the veteran stage and Paul Williams, a new signing from Leeds RUFC, won plenty of line-out ball. Flanker Phil Griffin showed up well and was always involved while No 8 Jonathan Burke was a tower of strength. Samoan flanker Lafael Filipo, who replaced Simon Henry, showed what a menace he could once again be while the front row of David Hall, a new signing from Harrogate, who came in for Chris Baldwin (ill), Paul Kelley and Steve Rice worked hard and were always in the thick of things.

Dan Clappison looks to the player to fill Peter Rutledge's boots. A left-footed kicker, Clappison converted two tries and kicked three penalties. Scrum-half Andrew Brown and fly-half Simon Hawkins linked up well at half-back.

It is early days but Otley, while probably not candidates for Premier Division Two, could well be a team to fear and could end the season in the top half.

Otley started the match at a cracking pace. Their handling was crisp snd they ran with determination. Although they made a few basic mistakes such as mis-guided passing, dropped passes and a little fumbling of the ball they did open the scoring with a penalty by Dan Clappison, when Rosslyn Park were caught offside. Two minutes later their elation was subdued somewhat when right-winger David Casado, a former Otley player, went in for a try in the eighth minute. Fly-half Andy Maddock added the goal points.

Otley's heads seemed to drop a little and they dropped even further when Rosslyn Park won a scrum near the Otley line and flanker Graham Boardman went over for a try to give the visitors a 3-12 lead.

From this point onwards, at least until half-time, Otley did not play up to the form expected of them. They reduced the lead when a Rosslyn Park player was caught offside and Clappison slotted over the penalty on the stroke of half-time.

When they resumed Samoan flanker Lafaele Filipo replaced Simon Henry. He immediately made his presence felt with a couple of strong runs.

Otley, by now, were playing much better and when they won a line-out Simon Brown latched onto the ball and went in for a try in the 43rd minute, which was converted by Clappison to give Otley a narrow 13-12 lead. Within two minutes they were behind again. A ball chipped through bounced awkwardly for Clappison and Rosslyn Park's full-back Ed Dickinson, who had followed up, was on hand to to score to make it 13-17 to the Londoners. Maddock failed with the conversion but kicked a penalty in the 52nd minute to give Rosslyn Park a 13-20 lead.

A penalty by Clappison (56 mins), who converted a try by Wayne Hartley (67 mins) put Otley in the driving seat at 23-20. They somehow managed to hold on for the remainder of the match.

Fortune smiled on them when Maddock missed two kicks at goal in the first and third minutes of extra time.

Otley travel to Birmingham and Solihull for a league match on Saturday and Keith Carroll is organising a coach for supporters which will leave Otley at 10am and returning home for 8.30pm.

Otley Saracens entertain Doncaster in a club match at Cross Green on Saturday (3pm).

Winger Robert Whatmuff is still recovering from the serious arm injury suffered against Worcester in February. He will be out of action for another six to eight weeks.

Skipper Neil Hargreaves, who sufferred a gashed nose in the friendly match with Bridlington the previous Saturday is not expected to be fit for another three weeks.

Neil's brother, Andy is skippering the Saracens XV and other team captains are Tongans, Nick Girling and Viscounts, Jamie Chappell.

In all five players have left the club. Peter Rutledge has joined Wilmslow; fly-half Anthony Cadman has moved to Vale of Lune; prop Ian Clappison has signed for Sandal; centre Richard Kelt has gone to Bradford and Bingley and winger John Bramham to Yarnbury.

Winger Charlie Maunders, a member of last season's Otley Colts XV has joined Leicester Under 19s.

New arrivals at Cross Green include Gary Cassidy, the former Yorkshire, Leeds and York scrum-half; fly-half Dan Clappison, a former England Colts squad member, who played for French club, Castres and Harrogate; Ryan Duckett, a 20year-old full-back from West Park Bramhope; Andy Eastham, a 19 year-old centre from Moortown; Phil Griffin, a back-row forward who captained Leeds in 1995-96; David Hall and Sam Halligan, prop forwards from Harrogate; Simon Henry, a lock or No 8 from Leeds; Ian Judson, a flanker from Bradford and Bingley; Dominic Kershaw, a fly-half from Old Leodiensians; Andrew Merkin, a hooker from Ilkley and Paul Williams, a 22 year-old lock on loan from Leeds.

Williams, while a player with Blackopool, represented Wales in the 1994-95 FIRA Youth Tournament.

Otley's new president is Brian Agar, who has been involved with the club for more than 50 years.

He joined the club in 1947-48 season and made his first team debut on December 31 1949. His Otley career was interrupted by National Service from 1951-53 during which he represented Hong Kong Combined Services.

He returned to Otley and was appointed club captain in 1955. He has served on the committee as membership secretary and treasurer.

Social events include: October 24, Ladies Day; November 27, Wine and Cheese Evening; November 28, Former Players Re-union.

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