Otley.........................15

WHARFEDALE..........14

OTLEY edged victory in the Boxing Day derby match at Cross Green fending off the challenge of the Green Machine.

A crowd of around 350 braved the cold to watch this game which lacked the passion of previous encounters. Perhaps this was due to the fact that by and large it lacked the first team personnel usually associated with this clash.

The Dalesmen recovered from being 15-3 down but could not grab that final vital score to win the game.

Otley's side in the main consisted of some of their younger players who are on the fringe of the first team or old hands like skipper Phil Griffin who were making their way back from injury.

Otley went behind to a seventh minute Carl Burnett penalty but fly-half Dan Clappison levelled three minutes later. Otley No 8 Ian Spence then dummied outside and went in himself for a 20th minute try.

Simon Hawkins replaced Clappison at half-time and it was Hawkins who started the move which almost brought a second try. He flicked the ball back to Ryan Duckett who put Will Darby in but he was stopped by the cover.

However, a 49th minute break by Hawkins unlocked the defence for Guy Hope to score. Hawkins added the conversion.

Wharfedale flanker Sam Allen made it 15-8 with a 56th minute try and when Burnett added a 65th minute penalty it was 15-11. Duckett then sliced a clearing kick and from the ensuing play Burnett landed his third penalty to bring a nail-biting finish.

OTLEY SARACENS............14

OLD OTLIENSIANS............0

OTLEY Saracens included a number of their younger players for this traditional derby game. Otliensians came with the confidence of several recent wins and soon showed they were not prepared to roll over as they went at the Otley side with some spirited play.

Saracens had the edge in this closely-fought derby at Cross Green winning by two converted tries to nil. They were contained for much of the game and indeed Otliensians were unlucky not to make their forward driving count in the last 20 minutes.

Otliensians' first blow was before the kick-off when their second specialist scrum-half became unavailable through illness and stand-off Simon Coates nobly stepped into the breech with Hugh Gumbs moving to stand-off, Hayward to centre and Will Haines coming in to the side at right wing for only his third senior game.

Otliensians started well with most of the possession and the greater territorial advantage. Penalties were then conceded which put them onto the back foot for a time and let Saracens into the game with some good attacking thrusts by their backs.

Saracens' clever runs on Otliensians' right flank after 20 minutes were repelled by excellent tackling but when they repeated this after 30 minutes the Otliensian defence was found wanting for Will Darby to go over breaking through two tackles to score.

When he received the ball he had plenty to do but he avoided the initial tacklers before stretching his legs to race away and score a good try. Alastair Monks added the conversion.

There was no further score and it remained 7-0 to Otley at half-time.

The second-half continued in the same vein with the tacklers snuffing out any likely dangers.

Ten minutes into the second-half Chris Baldwin replaced Payne at prop for Otliensians, the latter having put in some very hard work. Baldwin's thrusting runs along with others, particularly from skipper Richard Smith and Robert Arbuckle, were almost to turn the game.

It was Otley however who scored next with a break out of nothing. Otliensians' defence was caught a little flat-footed thinking a knock-on was going to be awarded.

Sam Gardner broke clear and though crossing in the corner touched down under the posts for another easy conversion for Alastair Monks.

Gardner received a bad facial cut and was replaced by Martin Hainsworth while Colt Mark Walker replaced Phil Griffin.

After 20 minutes of the second-half Brett Tenniswood and Richard (Mesher) Smith replaced Roberts and Hardie to introduce fresh legs and improve the line-out options where Otliensians had been a little below par.

The fresh legs certainly helped and Otliensians produced their best quarter of the game when some great forward thrusts nearly brought the deserved breakthrough.

However, the Otley defence held out to leave the score at 14-0 at the final whistle.

Whilst this was no classic both sides fought hard and Otliensians were unlucky not to at least put a score on the board. Their pack was outstanding against an experienced eight.

Otley Colts Duncan Setterington and Richard Bush stood up well in the front row against some strong scrummaging by Otliensians and Darren Leggett won some good line-out ball.

l On Saturday Ilkley have cancelled their game against Otliensians due to a cup fixture. Otliensians have resorted to the pool for a home fixture but their opponents were unknown at the time of going to press. Kick-off will be 2-15 pm.

Otliensians seconds are also at home - to Ilkley - for a 2.15 pm kick-off.