Game Otley find the Chiefs' cauldron too hot (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Game Otley find the Chiefs' cauldron too hot

8:13pm Sunday 19th April 2009

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Exeter Chiefs 80, Otley 17

With Exeter still brooding over their missed opportunities to pursue their dreams of Premiership rugby, Otley knew they would be stepping into a National League One cauldron yesterday.

And it took just one minute for the maelstrom to begin, a cross-kick falling into the arms of the chasing No 6 Tom Johnson with the line open for fly half Gareth Steenson to start a succession of seven consecutive conversions before veteran Tony Yapp took his place and kicked three out of five.

With skipper Dan Hyde missing with an ankle injury and all three fly halves unavailable, Otley have very few of their original side left and it entailed first-time appearances for six players but they did have a complete bench and they kept their spirits high, leading the second half through three great tries until the clsoing minutes when the Chiefs ran in a couple.

Keeping their early pressure, the Chiefs quickly added tries through prop Ben Moon on three minutes and lock Chris Bentley on eight, who claimed a second 12 minutes later.

And, although Otley made their presence felt, they could not effect a breakthrough and inevitably the home score began to mount with tries from full back Emyr Lewis (22 minutes), No 8 Richard Baxter from a five-metre scrum (24 minutes) and two from centre Bryan Rennie (29 and 38 minutes).

The second half began equally badly with replacement James Hanks over within the minute, quickly followed by Yapp, but Otley settled to take the game to Exeter and were rewarded with three excellent scores.

Full back Peter Wackett, who has had a fine season, raced in on 52 minutes and, after replacement Samuela Nute had powered over, he beat three would-be tacklers to score a second.

Steve Parsons converted the first but, after failing with the second, handed over to new boy, replacement Ben Hugh, who saw his kick sail wide.

Rennie completed his hat-trick on 78 minutes and winger Matt Jess just beat the final whistle to sneak over.

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