Otley 23

Birmingham/Solihull 30

OTLEY were left to regret not having the ability to capitalise on the scoring chances they created for themselves during the early part of the game when they lost control in the last ten minutes to present their visitors with an unlikely victory.

Their nemesis of old, winger Nick Baxter -remember his six tries for Worcester, was allowed to roam the field unhindered and cross a couple of times when there seemed to be no apparent danger.

His second try and Luke Smith's conversion brought Birmingham within touching distance of Otley's half-time score of 23 points with just over 20 minutes remaining.

The game should still have been secured but the failings of the first-half, far too many turnovers when in charge and the costly persistence of trying to pass under extreme pressure, continued resulting in a blank sheet following Neil Law's 35th minute try.

The start was excellent although 6ft 9 ins lock Rob Walton had colleagues capable of hoisting his 19 stones to prove some discomfort to Otley's line-out.

The home pack was soon driving forward and when the ball was released Rob Whatmuff was felled by a high tackle. This gave Simon Binns the first of his three penalties.

His second came five minutes later when, after a desperate clearing kick had been charged down, the visitors were caught off-side.

The disarray in the visitors' ranks as they resorted to pulling down another drive, they were to get away with far too many of these, gave him yet another.

It was 15 minutes before Birmingham had any ball to play with but they made their first chance count after they had driven to the home 22 and won a scrum.

Their No 8 Hese Fakatou picked up to make ground before moving the ball and Baxter came inside to make a diagonal run to the opposite corner without so much as a hand laid on him.

From there ex Rotherham No 10 Luke Smith converted into the teeth of the wind. It was remarkable that both kickers had 100 per cent success despite the conditions.

Two minutes later Otley were behind when a high kick landed behind Law with full-back Ian Shuttleworth dazzled by the bright sunshine. The bounce eluded them, the end result being a penalty for off-side which was run back and when the drive was halted full-back Leigh Hinton came up at pace to slice through.

Otley showed signs of faltering but the forwards soon regained momentum and were once again battering the line. From a scrum ten metres out, after the first drive was held, the ball went out to Law who crashed over wide out. Five minutes later, with Phil Greaves held on the line, Law came inside and forced his way in near the posts.

The game should have been wrapped up just before the break when Greaves and Mark Kirkby caught winger Scott Read in possession on his own line and lifted him over but Brown, with a blind side break from the scrum, was unable to find Kirkby.

The visitors were finding matters difficult after the break, although it took a fine tackle from Law to catch Hinton when he broke away but another venture inside on 59 minutes by Baxter had the defence spellbound and again he slid through.

Although now only two points in front Otley played calmly until Smith put in a speculative high kick which was comfortably handled by replacement Dan Clappison at full-back. However, the fly-half was obstructed in his follow up so he was presented with a simple penalty which he just managed with the aid of an upright.

Calamity struck when the re-start failed to go the distance. Birmingham made their way forward and Smith dropped a goal to put his side four points ahead. Matters grew worse when he struck a 45 metre penalty, rather harshly given for raking.

Striving for the draw Otley attacked strongly. Clappison broke through but could not link up and the last act saw Law burst away but when he was halted almost at the line his inside pass was not secured.

JOHN FINCH