Otley crushed by on-song Esher

Esher’s excellent, though unexpected, draw at high-flying Exeter the previous week served to inspire them against a makeshift Otley side.

The visitors were swept aside in the final quarter with exuberant rugby which brought the hosts three fine tries.

With Ian Shuttleworth, Robin Kitching, Kyle Dench and Paul Mooney sidelined, the rearranged back line took some time to find their feet and Esher made early inroads.

A late tackle on the halfway line gave full back Neil Hallett an easy eighth-minute penalty.

Esher went further ahead five minutes later. Otley had handled the initial danger, bringing fly half David Slemen down just short of the line and gaining a penalty and chance to clear.

However, a turnover at the line-out had them back on their heels and they failed to stop second row Stuart Walker striding over.

Hallett was given another easy penalty but Esher were caught offside at the restart and fly half Tom Rhodes got Otley on the scoreboard.

The Cross Greeners went further behind while Luther Burrell was in the sin bin, the same fate befalling Max Lewis and Dan Hyde.

Centre George Lowe chased a kick through from winger Tom Lozides to claim a try which Hallett converted. He kicked a third penalty while Rhodes added two more to set a score of 21-9 to the hosts at the break.

Hopes of an Otley revival faded when Lozides raced through to dive on a ball which had been hopefully hacked ahead but fell nicely for him.

After an 18-minute stoppage while No 7 James Tubasi had a dislocated ankle reset, the home pack drove over, Lee Starling making the touchdown.

Otley then produced a fine try with a turnover near their line. Burrell slipped through a gap for Peter Wackett to out-pace the defence and go in at the posts for Rhodes to convert.

It meant little as the vistors spent most of the last quarter a man light and Esher ran in three more tries through Douglas Flockhart, Lozides and Lowe.