Otley.....................3

Wakefield..........20

Otley's failure to pick up any points on Saturday extends the agony as the battle at the bottom of National League One hots up between the contenders for who joins Waterloo in making the drop.

Waterloo's admirable draw at Moseley was to no avail.

There is an interesting addition to the guesswork for no one at Twickenham is sure how many bonus points have been won by each team, witness the varying points totals in different newspapers who try to keep their own tally.

Orrell are credited with 38 and have to meet Birmingham/Solihull and London Welsh whilst Birmingham, on 41, in addition have to play Bedford mid-week and Worcester.

Bedford, on 44, one ahead of Otley, entertain Exeter on Saturday, then after meeting their neighbours arrive at Cross Green on the 28th for what could be a crunch match, unless Otley can grab the points at Coventry on Saturday and Orrell go down at home.

For a long time last Saturday Otley looked capable of at least a single bonus point, never ever looking like scoring the requisite number of tries.

The optimists were feeling quite cheerful when the second-half began with the home side only three points down and a strong breeze at their backs but what little ball they had they squandered.

They were never allowed close enough to the Wakefield line for Dan Clappison to even attempt a shot at goal.

Two penalties by the steady Rob Liley to one from Clappison, who was also just short with a 42m kick into the wind, summed up the first-half which at best could be called energetic.

The excitement came when Wakefield's Mark Sowerby was yellow carded for trampling and the clash of heads which sent Andy Brown and Liley off for a lengthy spell.

In the absence of the latter Mike Cawthorne was called upon to take two penalties under the posts, both of which he missed.

Wakefield began to reveal a little bit of class after the break, mainly through their full-back Dan Scarborough, a magnet for Leeds Tykes, who is speedy and incisive whilst skipper Glen Wilson, at No 8, led a good back row. His No 7, Carl Houston, was on hand to score two short range tries in the best tradition.

Whilst showing little talent in attack, Otley's defence was tremendous and it was 62 minutes before their line was breached. Scarborough was the instigator when running back an optimistic kick a

The second try came 14 minutes later after Otley's cover had been dragged first to one side and then the other.

The puzzle was how Wakefield had managed to lose at Bedford the previous week, a bad result for Otley, but it all makes for an exciting, or nervous, end to the season.

l On Saturday Otley travel to Coventry looking for vital points. A supporters' coach will be running, contact Keith Carroll.