Otley 31

Bradford & Bingley 17

WITH squad men missing due to injury or holiday commitments Otley, ringing the changes regularly, were given a stern test by an ambitious Bees side which contained six players who had spent time at Cross Green. The most recent being Mark Kirkby, who has joined from Orrell, and he was no doubt delighted when he appeared on his opposite wing to score the visitors' first try.

The side's were contesting the Granville Clarke Memorial Trophy, presented in memory of a popular No 7 who left the Bees to join Otley.

Otley's first problem is to fill the full-back spot with Ian Shuttleworth out for six weeks with a broken wrist and newcomer Robin Kitchen and Alastair Monks shared the vacant position in this game.

It took just two minutes for Otley to open their account. Stealing a throw in on the Bees' 22 they drove over for James Tiffany to touchdown, Simon Binns converted from wide out but Kirkby crossed over to make the extra man and go in at the corner some ten minutes later.

Line-out possession on halfway saw the ball move swiftly across field where Rob Whatmuff gave Kitchen a clear run to the line but while Tiffany was in the sin-bin for a technical foul the visitors hit back when Otley made a mess of possession. Centre Stuart Dixon raced over, Tom Rhodes levelling the score with his conversion.

Four minutes after the break Otley resumed the lead, hooker Ben Steele being driven over from a five metre line-out. When Bees' No 6 Latu Maakafi was yellow-carded for punching they immediately went further ahead, Matt Stockdale grounding after the home pack had driven over from fully 20 metres out.

Five minutes later the back row man was on hand to take an inside pass from Kitchen to outpace the opposition. Both tries were converted by Binns but the game ended with a well-worked try for the visitors.

A penalty gave the Bees a line-out in the home 22 and on receiving the ball Rhodes hoisted a pin-point accurate kick to the corner which was skilfully taken by full-back Ben Greaves at pace and he avoided the cover to twist over.

With no scheduled games for this weekend there will be a training run out before things start in earnest on September 3 when Bedford will be the visitors to Cross Green.

Gate prices at Cross Green for National One matches have gone up to £12 with £8 for concessions.

Club President Gordon Baines said: "This is reflective of the standard of rugby we are now playing and the charges are levied throughout National Division One although at the London clubs it will be higher."

He added that the club had kept season ticket prices the same as last year to encourage membership. A season ticket costs £125 (concessions £60) and covers all 13 home National One games as well as all home second team games. Children U-15 enter the ground free.

Baines said that the club was looking to build up its 'junior' sides. "The Under-11s had a wonderful day at Twickenham last season and we are making efforts to build up the junior sides all round including the Saracens, third and fourth teams.

"We are now a major force in English rugby being the 17th highest placed club in the land last season but we are also a community club and as such we still look to players for our junior sides who enjoy the traditional rugby atmosphere and we are well-known for our hospitality and long may it continue.

"We are not stiff and starchy, we welcome anyone and any player with potential can make it right the way through to the first team as such as Simon Hawkins and Rob Whatmuff have shown.