LYDNEY 3

Otley powered their way to their fifth successive win in the Jewson League Division One when they comfortably defeated Gloucestershire side, Lydney, at Cross Green on Saturday.

This latest win means Otley retain their third position but have opened up a gap of four points from their nearest rivals, Rosslyn Park, who narrowly lost 10-7 at home to second placed Henley.

Otley were by far the better organised team. Their pack dominated the line-outs and loose mauls and set pieces. They drove the Lydney pack almost into the ground and generally played as a unit and with skill.

Otley's backs were also superior to their opposite numbers.

Otley are unfortunate this season in having a large squad which means when players are injured others can take over with very little difference to the rhythm of their play.

Conditions were once again suitable for open rugby and this helped Otley's style of play. Their pack often ran at speed upfield and their backs moved even faster. They played with spirit and determination and this led to four tries being scored.

There were a number of incidents during the match which led to Otley's flanker Phil Griffin and Lydney's lock James Bashford and their skipper and hooker Nicholas Nelmes being given yellow cards by referee Mr M Fox (RFU/Leicestershire Society), who himself received a 'yellow card' from Griffin. This came about when the referee had shown a yellow card to Nelmes. Instead of returning the card to his pocket Mr Fox dropped it on the pitch and ironically Griffin was on hand to pick it up and hand it back to the referee, much to the amusement of the crowd.

This was a game where the whole team worked hard for victory. It was a match where Ryan Duckett shone at full-back; William Darby showed his speed on the right-wing; scrum-half Gary Cassidy showed enterprise and was rewarded with his fifth try of the season and it was the match where the two locks Ian Carroll, who played with nine stitches in a head wound sustained at Morley the previous week, and Paul Williams, scored their first tries of the season.

The fact that Otley are playing winning rugby at the moment should mean increased attendances at their home matches but on Saturday only about 400 turned up for this important match.

Lydney, were the first to score when full-back Nick Paisley kicked a penalty in the 16th minute when an Otley player was caught off-side, to give them a 0-3 lead. That was their only score in the match for from then onwards Otley took over and did all the scoring to the tune of 34 points.

Within three minutes Otley had taken the lead when right-winger Will Darby ran at speed from the half-way line to score a try under the posts to give fly-half Dan Clappison an easy conversion kick.

Following a scrum flanker Phil Griffin was stopped just short of the Lydney line. Then lock Ian Carroll set up a move near the visitor's line when he won a line-out in the 27th minute.

A Lydney player wwas caught off-side and Clappison put Otley further ahead with a well placed kick. Otley led 10-3 at half-time.

Lafaele Filipo, Otley's powerful Samoan No 8, who was Otley's leading try scorer with five this season was determined to increase his tally but on two occasions early in the second-half he was stopped just short of the Lydney line. However, it was Ian carroll who got Otley's second try. Centre Mark Billington took the ball on the burst to set up a ruck and then Clappison quickly gave the ball to Carroll who charged his way over for a 42nd minute try, which was converted by Clappison, who also added a penalty in the 47th minute to give Otley a comfortable 20-3pts lead.

Four minutes laters Clappison was replaced by Simon Hawkins and Simon Henry came on for flanker Phil Griffin. Otley made a further replacement in the 54th minute, when Chris Baldwin came on for prop Sam Halligan.

During yet another Otley attack scrum-half Gary Cassidy joined Filipo with five tries to his name this season. He picked up a loose ball and then dummied his way over the Lydney line in the 58th minute much to the delight of the home crowd. Simon Hawkins added the goal points with a cooly taken kick. Otley now led 27-3.

Their scoring had not finished for lock Paul Williams rounded off a fine game with a quick dash down the left-wing to score a glorious try in the 75th minute. This was improved by Hawkins who showed he was a most able replacement for Clappison.

William Darby was unlucky to have a try disallowed almost on time when the referee adjuddged he had knocked on. The ball did not appear to touch his hands initially but hit a knee or his shins and as the ball went forward Darby took it over the line for what appeared to be a good try.

Veteran prop Steve Rice missed this match because he had suffered a knock on the hand at Morley.

Otley are looking forward with confidence to the visit of Newbury to Cross Green on Saturday when they hope to pick up two more points. The following Saturday (December 12) Otley travel to Reading and then have a return match with Lydney (away) on December 19. Then on December 26 they meet Morley for the third time this season.

For the match at Reading Keith Carroll is organising a coach which will leave Cross Green at 7am and is scheduled to return to Otley before midnight. The fare is £25 and seats can be booked by ringing Keith on 0113-2503033.

Hooker Paul Kelley, who was at the match, said he won't be playing again this season following a leg injury sustained during the Tetley Bitter Cup match against Morley on October 17.

Three Otley Under 16 players full-back Alex Clemie (Ashville) and replacements Philip Howell (Sedbergh) and James Terry (Prince Henry's Grammar School) helped Yorkshire Schools' Under 16 Group beat Cheshire at Cross Green.

Centre Adrian Scott, who scored 31 tries in 111 appearances for Otley between 1989-90 and 1995-96 has joined Ilkley, the Yorkshire Division One side. He also made a number of appearances for Yorkshire.

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