WHARFEDALE 15

Otley 15

THERE have been matches of more lasting merit and skills but this Wharfedale derby at Threshfield, on Saturday, kept the crowd of 1,080 on edge until the final whistle.

As was to be expected this was a hard fought Jewson League Division One match. While it lacked spectacular and enterprising rugby it did produce a blood and guts game in which prisoners were certainly not taken.

There were of course mistakes by both sides but there were some thrilling moments and both sets of supporters held their breath as the two teams pressed.

Both teams were called on to defend desperately as the packs locked horns and battled away. Otley were guilty of a number of missed tackles which meant Wharfedale gained confidence and put the visitors under pressure.

Play in the set pieces was fairly even but Wharfedale had two twin towers of

their own in lock David Lister, who won practically every ball that came his way in the line-outs and No 8 Charles Vyvyan, the former North of England and Yorkshire player, who has returned to his old club from Sale. He was in superb form along with Hedley Verity, a hard grafting flanker.

It was in the line-outs and loose play where the quick, fit and strong Wharfedale pack dominated.

In Otley's favour they never gave up and there were moments when they could quite easily have buckled and had they done so then Wharfedale might well have had a runaway victory.

Otley needed points to stay in the top half of the table while Wharfedale are desperate for points in their effort to escape the relegation zone.

So all in all a share of the points was a fair result and supporters of both sides seemed to be quite happy and relieved when the final whistle was blown.

Wharfedale were at full-strength but Otley were without scrum-half Simon Brown (injured) and full-back Peter Rutledge, who has been out of action with a groin injury, played but was not used as a goalkicker for fear of further injury.

Otley made one change from the selected side. Sam Gardner was included on the right-wing in place of Robert Whatmuff.

On a soft pitch Wharfedale put Otley under early pressure and wingers Steve McManus and Adam Mounsey went close and then Sam Gardner had to cover when fly-half Neil Heseltine chipped through the Otley defence. Moments later Otley controlled a maul and prop Chris Baldwin made progress before disappearing under a mass of green shirts.

Otley managed to survive this early green wave of aggression. They then won a scrum and the defending scrum-half Chris Thornton chipped a ball over the Wharfedale defence for right-winger Gardner to win the touchdown in the 10th minute. Fly-half Simon Hawkins was just short with a the long range kick from near the right touchline but Otley found themselves with a 5-0 lead against the run of play.

Wharfedale were awarded a penalty when an Otley player was caught off-side but Mounsey was wide with what appeared to be a simple kick.

However, Wharfedale got on equal terms. They won a scrum, held the ball for a few seconds, released it to Daniel Harrison and the Dales scrum-half dummied his way over. Wharfedale won a line-out through lock Lister and from a loose maul flanker Paul Evans scored a try (33 mins) which was converted by Mounsey.

Hawkins then missed a straight kick at goal in the 35th minute and shortly before the interval Wharfedale's prop Ian Peel and Otley centre Mark Billington had a misunderstanding. Wharfedale deservedly led 12-5 at half-time.

On resuming Otley began to put the home side under pressure and in the 41st minute Hawkins kicked a penalty to reduce the arears to 12-8 but 10 minutes later Mounsey kicked a penalty for Wharfedale to make it 15-8.

Further pressure by Otley saw them win a line-out. They moved the ball inside and Wayne Hartley sped between the posts for a try (59 mins) which was converted by Hawkins to put the scores level.

Michael Harrison missed with a drop goal attempt in the 78th minute for Wharfedale and then almost on the stroke of full-time Otley hooker Mick Kelley chipped a superb ball close to the Wharfedale line but Otley were unable to capitalise on the move.

The match was well handled by referee Roy Maybank (RFU and London Society).

Otley have now taken three points from their two league matches with Wharfedale this season. having beaten them 27-11 at Cross Green on November 15.

l Otley will be hoping to pick up two points when they entertain Rosslyn Park at Cross Green on Saturday.

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