Otley 24

Doncaster 16

OTLEY swept into the top half of the league with a win that proved to be less than their hard endeavours deserved. They were once again so much in command by dint of the superiority of their forwards that the result should have been a foregone conclusion by half-time.

All this, despite an horrendous display of line-out work, which came as a surprise after their 100 per cent accuracy against London Welsh.

With Simon Binns constantly taking advantage of the misdemeanours of the visitors by pushing them back to their line it was nothing less than criminal that they never once managed to drive over, even when for 20 minutes facing a side with a player light.

Doncaster knew they were in for trouble in the forward exchanges, and sought to run the ball at every opportunity. But so efficient was the home defence that they were often playing on the retreat and eventually resorted to the high ball as an attacking ploy and it did have some success.

Conceding a penalty at the kick-off Otley were pushed back to their 22 but managed to steal the ball for Binns to kick deep, where winger Luke Nabaro knocked on, but the visitors managed to wheel the scrum only to concede a penalty on their put-in.

This went into the corner where they gave away two further penalties but succeeded in holding the drive so the ball was released and Waisale Sovatabua came into the centre to go over unopposed, Binns converting.

Following an Italian official against Sedgley Park, Monsieur David Rosich made the long journey from Toulouse for this game and with his limited English had great difficulty communicating with two packs of forwards intent on slugging it out.

Doncaster were soon in trouble when second row Glen Kenworthy received a yellow card, though Otley failed to take advantage, losing the five metre line-out.

Doncaster, for once, broke through to the home 22 and the defence was caught off-side. Fly-half Jon Benson was presented with a simple penalty but Otley reacted well only to see a pass dropped with the line open. Ian Shuttleworth, immediately back to his best on his season's debut, fielded a high ball to dodge his way through the oncoming defence and in the panic prop Simon Bunting found himself sin-binned for a deliberate knock-on, giving Binns an easy penalty.

With the referee indicating there was no time for a line-out Benson hoisted the ball high, which was taken by Shuttleworth, but the retiring defence was ruled off-side and Benson added a second penalty.

Given the ball from the re-start Binns kicked deep and as full back and winger watched it dribble over the line Shuttleworth surprised both by beating them to the touchdown. Binns missed the conversion but landed a penalty to put Otley comfortably 18-6 ahead but Doncaster replied with a converted try. Van Vuuren coming in from his wing to go in under the posts.

A third penalty from Binns was quickly nullified when the home front row was penalised for lowering the scrum. Otley were looking at ease with Andy Brown livening things up, one superb kick through chased and collected by Robin Kitching almost brought a score but ended with a penalty for not releasing. On 79 minutes Binns wrapped things up with a penalty which denied the visitors their bonus point.

A succession of away games starts with a trip to Plymouth on Saturday followed by a fourth round cup game at London Scottish.