Otley 23

Worcester 40

OTLEY had every right to feel disappointed at gaining no reward from this exhilarating game, for they deserved at least a couple of bonus points which were denied them as injuries took their toll.

Already without Simon Binns and Phil Greaves, they were deprived of influential players Ian Carroll and Jonathan Burke with injuries, and Chris Malherbe not feeling well, all of which required a change round, with Ian Shuttleworth going to fly-half and Tim Foster taking his spot.

The full-back kicked an early penalty but had to be replaced on 35 minutes with bruised ribs, and Shuttleworth followed him at the break, which entailed Andy Brown moving out with Peter Wright taking his place whilst Matt Walker continued at full-back.

Worcester, meanwhile, were less encumbered. They were without second row David Simms and ex-Henley centre Duncan Roke, who has hardly played so far, to the English National Divisions side. The fact that there were only two chosen caused a lot of discussion and argument during the week.

Scottish international Craig Chalmers put the visitors ahead from the kick-off when Brown was penalised for holding on. Foster soon equalised, but his sliced clearance six minutes later dropped to powerful centre Chris Yates, who stormed through to put Winston Stanley over in the corner for Chalmers to convert and he quickly added a penalty.

A Shuttleworth interception 45m out set Cross Green alight when he broke through with only No 8 Jim Jenner in his path. The fly-half stopped dead in front of him, jinked one way and accelerated the other to get to the line, only to be pulled back for an off-side call.

Jenner gained some revenge when he went over from a drive from a line-out and the visitors were then gifted a try when Mr Grasshoff was the only person not to see the touch judge indicate a forward pass on half-way, the radio link equipment never turned up, and a kick ahead was touched down by winger Chris Garrard.

Now trailing 25-3 matters had to be remedied and the forwards knuckled down. A series of attacks on the Worcester line yielded fruit when Brown slipped over for a try and with his last touch of the ball in the game Shuttleworth kicked a penalty. Thirteen minutes into the second-half they were within a couple of points.

A strong run through the middle by Robert Whatmuff split the defence and Brown was on hand to continue before finding Walker coming in from full-back, who raced over, and it was Brown, excelling at fly-half, who threw out a long pass to replacement Mark Kirkby.

The winger ran round his man and through full-back Ben Hinshelwood for fourth choice kicker Simon Smith, who had narrowly missed from the other touchline, to convert from wide out.

The visitors began to show a little quality and Hinshelwood came into the line to score and Ben Clarke touched down from another line-out drive. Chalmers converted and added a 78th minute penalty.

Otley's loss was to the benefit of England National Divisions side when they held a strong Australia side to 22-34.

The home side's only try was scored by Otley's Phil Greaves, a 69th minute replacement, from a kick through by his clubmate Simon Binns, who converted the try, kicked three penalties and struck a drop goal.

There is no doubt they will be required again when South Africa are the opponents on Wednesday, November 28.

l On Saturday Otley visit Henley in the RFU Cup.