Otley..................34

BRACKNELL........12

CHAMPAGNE and beer flowed on the field at Cross Green, on Saturday, as Otley players celebrated, a little before time, the winning of the Jewson League Division One title following their emphatic win over Bracknell.

Otley need to win at Blackheath on Saturday, to be fully sure of the title. If Blackheath, who lost to Otley at Cross Green by 103-3, and are already doomed to relegation, manage to beat Otley then Birmingham and Solihull, their nearest rivals would have to win both their two remaining matches by massive scores in order to overhaul Otley.

After the match coach Peter Clegg finished up fully clothed in the team bath. He was being interviewed by me when a number of players descended on him and carried him to the bath.

Before this interruption Clegg had paid tribute to his squad and the hard work they had put in during the season.

"The squad has worked hard and so has the coaching staff. The team has played well away from home. It is a happy squad and this has greatly helped," he said.

Mike Barnett, director of coaching, said: "We are delighted to have won the championship and gained promotion to Division Two of the national league.

"They have played well today and won which is pleasing following the upset at Fylde. It has been great for the lads because they have worked hard this season. They have got their just reward," he said.

Otley were worthy winners in the end although Bracknell put up a good fight particularly in the first-half when they came at Otley and showed they could play rugby.

Bracknell are mid-table but with a few more players of quality could well be a useful side next season.

Although they were well held in the first-half, due to some determined tackling by the visitors, Otley showed their skills after the interval when they ran in 24 points.

All the team played well but there were some outstanding performances from some of the players.

Centre Rob Whatmuff was, in my opinion, the most enterprising threequarter. Whatmuff, an elusive centre, revelled in the back play. His try in the 59th minute was a gem and probably the best try scored by an Otley player this season.

Whatmuff's try was one of those that will or should be talked about over a pint in the clubhouse in years to come. It drew applause from Roy Manock, a top official of the RFU, and a former Yarnbury back, who was seated in the stand.

Whatmuff received the ball just inside Bracknell's half.

Using left-winger Kirkby as a foil he first scythed through Bracknell's first line of defence, then wrong-footed two players before side-stepping and zig- zagging past the remainder of a now depleted Bracknell defence to run in at speed for a truly wonderful try.

Scrum-half Andy Brown and fly-half Dan Clappison worked well together; full-back Ryan Duckett and centre Mark Billington made some strong runs while in the forwards props Steve Rice and David Hall were formidable along with No 8 Jonathan Burke and flanker and skipper Phil Griffin.

It was fitting that Griffin got on the scoresheet with a deserved try in the 65th minute.

After lock Ian Carroll had made a strong run in the fourth minute fly-half Dan Clappison kicked a penalty for Otley in the 15th minute to give them a 3-0 lead.

Centre Rob Whatmuff made a strong run as Otley challenged. He handed to Simon Smith, who had a chance to run for the line but the Otley right-winger hesitated fractionally instead of running hard and this enabled a Bracknell defender to tackle him.

At this stage of the game Bracknell were quite lively and following a fine move and some handling by them saw their No 8 Alan Lamb bore his way over for a try (19 mins) to give the visitors a 3-5 lead. Fly-half Mike Kenworthy was unable to add the goal points.

Bracknell's success was short lived because in the 27th minute Otley's No 8 Jonathan Burke scored a try near the posts which was converted by Clappison. Earlier centre Jason Payne suffered a cut right eye after receiving, what appeared to be, a hand-off from Mark Kirkby. He was replaced by Jesse Coulson.

Clappison was short with a penalty kick at goal in the 36th minute but Otley led 10-5 at half-time.

Within four minutes of resuming Burke went in for a try and then in the 52nd minute Mark Kirkby raced in for a try. Clappison was just wide with the conversion kick.

Otley prop Steve Rice received applause from the crowd as he left the field in the 54th minute after a sterling performance. He was replaced by Ronnie Kelly.

By now Otley were putting the visitors under a lot of pressure and it was not surprising when Whatmuff scored his magnificent try which was converted by Clappison to give Otley a 27-5 lead.

In the 59th minute Paul Williams came on for Ian Carroll. Skipper and flanker Phil Griffin scored Otley's final try in the 65th minute. Clappison converted the try to give Otley a 34-5 lead.

John Healey replaced Alan Lamb in the 69th minute and a minute later scrum-half Peter Wright replaced Andy Brown for Otley.

In the 78th minute Kenworthy crossed the Otley line for a try for Bracknell as the southern side continued to work hard. Kenworthy also converted the try.

Clappison has now scored 254 points this season.

Hooker, Duncan Sayers, who at Fylde equalled Neil Hargreaves record of 44 consecutive league appearances for Otley has left for New Zealand where he will play club rugby in Palmerston North before returning for the Allied Dunbar Two challenge next season.

l Otley Town Council are holding a Civic Reception for the Otley team next Thursday.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.