Harlequins 43 Otley 3

OTLEY found themselves in the magnificent new set-up at The Stoop when they took on NEC Harlequins on Saturday in a game which did little to enhance Otley's reputation.

Earlier in the season Otley had gained great credit from their home performance against Quins when virtually everyone believed they had been robbed of an historic victory.

On this occasion Otley had three players sin-binned and their tactics did not endear them to the home crowd.

In front of a crowd of 8,000 Otley stepped out after six hours on the road for some of the team - not the best preparation to meet an unbeaten side on their owen patch who are averaging 47 points a game.

Quins moved the ball wide at every opportunity and although stretched Otley's defence was secure and up to all the whiles of the home backs for a time.

Then Kyle Dench was pulled down inside the home half running back a kick ahead and gained a penalty, well within the range of Ian Shuttleworth at fly-half for the injured Simon Binns, when he was manhandled. However, the penalty was turned round when Mark Luffman was seen by the touch judge wreaking revenge and he was shown a yellow card.

Otley appeared to be coping until Quins had a five metre line-out and a clean catch and proficient drive saw prop Tani Fuga go over and fly-half Adrian Jarvis converted.

The pressure was maintained but by the skin of their teeth Otley kept their line intact.

They nailed Will Greenwood when he slid inside in one of his characteristic moves and when for the second time they crossed the half-way line Otley were awarded a penalty which Shuttleworth stroked over from 45 metres.

Beginning to get into the game Otley began to alarm the home crowd with some good ball carrying and had them back on their line only to lose possession. Again the touch judge put his oar in to signal a forward pass when a score looked nailed on. Quins fought their way back and Jarvis kicked a penalty on 38 minutes.

Calamity struck six minutes later at a scrum near the Otley line when Kris Fullman was sent to the sin bin. Quins chose a scrum and when the drive failed they swung the ball down the line for right winger Charlie Amesbury to squeeze in at the corner.

Starting the second-half with the prospect of being a man short had Otley on their toes and they managed a turnover on their line only to see their kick charged down. They were faced with a five metre scrum where once again they achieved a turn over when No 8 Nick Easter set up a charge and this time got the kick in only to see Quins run the ball back.

Shuttleworth was the third Otley player to get a yellow card with a deliberate knock-on which Mr Ross decided merited a penalty try.

Now two players short Otley had no cover when the ball was run from the scrum awarded when the re-start failed to travel the ten metres, left winger Simon Keogh cutting inside to make the conversion simple.

Still Otley did not wilt, causing some alarm in the home defence but Jarvis was on hand to take over when Easter broke away from a drive to slip in under the posts.

Nathan Bland and Waisale Sovatabua had threatening runs but Otley were never able to complete and on 74 minutes Amesbury went in for his second try and Jarvis kicked his fifth conversion of the day.

The way Quins are playing it will be at least two years before these two sides meet again.

l On Saturday Otley entertain Coventry.