Clegg not impressed as Otley win by one point

Otley 13

THE first leg of a trio of long distance fixtures started badly for Otley when the bus broke down on the way to Henley, a one and a half hour delay for a replacement resulting in a very late arrival at their hotel on Friday.

Team coach Peter Clegg was adamant that it had no bearing on the close result the following day.

He was not unhappy about the team's performance, indicating that they should have been 25 to 30 points ahead at half-time, such was their superiority.

He put the missing of so many scoring chances down to the lack of games over the two past Saturdays which induced a certain rustiness which they failed to shake off.

Otley did score two tries whilst all the Hawk's points came from the boot, the final penalty on 75 minutes to bring the score to within a point, inducing a certain alarm especially when, just before the finish, having used all their back replacements, Stephen Trethewey had to go on for Neil Taylor.

Battling for survival Henley were intent on getting something from this encounter. Their defence was well organised despite being under supreme pressure from the Otley pack, through which they conceded the two tries, but they had little opportunity to attack.

It was 24 minutes before they crossed the Otley 22 leaving fly-half Matt Honeyben to do their scoring whenever they got within range. This he did to good effect, mastering the strong cross-wind better than Simon Binns, although, like Binns, he did miss a relatively simple chance.

It looked all too easy for the visitors as they swept into an early lead when the forwards did their bit after Binns put a penalty into the corner, Nathan Bland finishing off.

They continued to dominate but frustration crept in and passes were either misplaced or put down and it was a wake-up call when Honeyben dropped a neat goal on 39 minutes but more threatening when, three minutes into added time, he put his side ahead with a penalty.

A few corrective words at half- time had effect when, following another penalty pushed into the corner, the forwards drove for the line only to have the maul pulled down.

The ever-alert Dave Scully took a quick tap and when he was held slipped the ball to Justin Wring who forced his way over. Binns was again off target with the conversion and had also missed a penalty five minutes earlier.

He made no mistake when given a further chance on 58 minutes and it appeared that Otley would now move steadily ahead but despite ringing the changes could make no further headway.

All seven subs came on, Trethewey's arrival on 79 minutes necessitating a slight re-arrangement but despite the two late penalties from Honeyben they held on.

On Saturday they fly down to Penzance who, having played a game more, are a point above Otley in the league and having lost at Cross Green will be anxious to make home advantage count as the battle for fourth spot goes on.

John Finch