Edwards try a bonus for Otley (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Edwards try a bonus for Otley

12:00pm Monday 18th December 2006 in Sport By Sports Desk

Plymouth 52

Otley 20

Few sides come away from Plymouth with anything positive and Otley would not expect much, even at the start of the year, but given the circumstances the scoring of four late tries was indeed a bonus.

There was good news with the return of skipper Ian Shuttleworth and centre Kyle Dench but it is asking a lot for a make-shift side to travel so far and take on a club with ambitions of Premiership rugby.

They have rivals in Exeter and Cornish Pirates but Albion are ahead in the battle for support, ground and facilities and are bringing together a physically big and well-organised side, who made their intentions known very early into the game.

They were ahead within five minutes when centre Sila Vac-nuku went over to be followed rather quickly by scrum half Edward Lewsey, both tries being converted by centre Regerat Van Eyk.

Plymouth had Otley pinned back, unable to claim any ball, and with the game proceeding at pace, winger Thomas Arscott scored in the corner.

The visitors were not helping their cause with a massive penalty account against them, No 8 Matt Stockdale receiving a yellow card in the 13th minute for a professional foul.

But Otley refused to capitulate and eventually, after 25 minutes, managed to break into the home 22.

However, bent on the fifth point, Albion kept up the pace, hooker Richard Oxley claiming that vital fourth try.

Van Eyk converting this and his own try which came in the 40th minute, and nine minutes into the second half Lewsey grabbed his second touch-down.

Meanwhile Otley had climbed back into the game and on the hour Danny Smith outpaced the cover to touch down a kick through and, after conceding a further try to winger Nicolas Sesteret, converted by replacement fly half David Delaney, the alert Brendon Back swept up a dropped home pass to make the necessary yards.

Sesteret and Delaney added a further seven points for Plymouth before, in the 80th minute, Stockdale went over and, with time being short, the conversion was foregone.

From the restart, a long kick for the corner was chased by Smith, only for the bounce to beat him but replacement Owen Edwards was with him to steal the touchdown and claim what has been for Otley so far a rare bonus point.