ALTHOUGH admitting that Tipiloma Kivalu was silly to get involved in the 65th-minute punch-up that led to his dismissal during their 39-27 home National League Two North derby win over Wharfedale last Saturday, Otley’s director of rugby Peter Clegg has some sympathy for his prop.

“He is the most mild-mannered person I have met,” said Clegg of the 29-year-old Samoan, who Otley signed from Coventry during the close season.

“We were so dominant in the scrums that why would he get involved in a punch-up?

“The reason is, and we don’t condone punching, is that he was being punched himself.

“He retaliated, and was silly to do so but he apologised to the referee afterwards.”

Clegg admitted: “I have looked at the video but it is inconclusive because it was on the far side of the scrum.”

Ninth-placed Otley are at third-placed Sedgley Park tomorrow, and Clegg added: “We lost 28-25 at home to them last season and 28-26 away – a total of five points – so we owe them one.”

There are “lies, damned lies and statistics” according to Mark Twain, but Wharfedale’s director of rugby James Doherty says that there are no denying the figures concerning their first two matches this season.

The Greens are bottom of the table with no points, and Doherty said: “We made 23 handling errors against Otley, conceded ten penalties at scrums and missed 20 tackles, while if you add in the Preston game we have given away 34 penalties, made 40 handling errors and missed 30-odd tackles, and you aren’t going to win matches with statistics like those.”

Wharfedale host Hinckley tomorrow, and have made six changes, including Jamie Guy at fly half for Tom Barrett, who is awaiting scan results in ligament damage. Young Will Lawn is at scrum half, with Josh Prell on the wing.