Director of rugby Gary Walker insists injuries to the spine of his team have led to Otley’s slow start to the season in SSE National League Two North.

Already missing second-rower Howard Parr (in Afghanistan) and No 8 Rob Afoa-Peterson (close-season knee operation), Walker’s side have also been without full back James Keinhorst (rugby league duty with Germany and Leeds Rhinos) and fly half Christian Georgiou (hamstring).

In addition, they lost impressive second-rower Simon Willett with a freak injury during the warm-up before last Saturday’s 59-25 defeat at Caldy.

Walker, whose side host Kendal tomorrow, explained: “He was screaming in pain with a dislocated thumb which pierced his flesh and the subsequent disruption affected the lads for much of the first half. We also fielded a 17-year-old (Oliver Rosillo) on the wing.” Otley started the campaign with victories over Hull and Hull Ionians before losing their next three matches and are currently 13th with ten points.

But Walker said: “If we had been able to field the teams that we did against Hull and Ionians, we would be in a comfortable position.”

Instead, they are fourth from bottom in a log-jam of nine teams who are separated by only three points.

But Walker said tellingly: “Howard Parr should be back next month, Rob Afoa-Peterson should be back in the middle of this month and Rob Whatmuff should be available at about the same time.

“That is a massive amount of experience to be without – but you cannot legislate for the number of injuries we have had.

“Jimmy Keinhorst should also be back tomorrow at full back and we still have Ben Steele at hooker.

“But we have also been without Joe Barker at No 10, who is getting a chance to play in the Championship with Leeds. Christian Georgiou will also be missing for a couple more weeks with his hamstring.”

Centre Ben Thoy should also get an opportunity tomorrow.