Otley 18

Birmingham/Solihull 3

COACH Peter Clegg described it as an appalling game but Otley were glad of the points which took them above their opponents in the National Division One table.

Otley leapt into sixth place after winning what was a drab encounter at Cross Green. However, it highlighted the worth of Otley's rugged defence and Simon Binns showed how to make the best use of a short supply of possession.

Otley knew what to expect having gone down 41-16 at Solihull and they were well prepared, for once able to keep their nemesis winger Nick Baxter still waiting for his 100th league try.

It was Baxter who scored six tries in one game to better the league record of five in a game by Otley's Mark Kirkby.

That they restricted the visitors to a single shot at goal was quite an achievement and that was in the final minute of the first-half but they were called upon to combat throw-ins close to their line on countless occasions and the threat was countered every single time.

As Duncan sayers was suffering with a heavy cold he was held back until the 56th minute and the versatile Hapafila Liu took his spot in the front row.

Although having a fine game in open play he was unable to combine with his jumpers so there was little line-out ball, sadly whenever they were close to the visitors' line following a penalty.

The two packs tore into each other with enthusiasm but sadly there was a lack of quality as the ball was repeatedly turned over.

There was little skill in the threequarters with little invention either. Otley ignored their record try scorer Mark Kirkby who received only one pass all game from which he crossed the line.

It was not much better in the scrums although this was more to do with Birmingham seeing how far they could bend the rules rather than Otley's lack of ability.

Young referee Wayne Barnes, just 22, spotted some of the offences and a regular flow of penalties enabled Otley to keep the pressure off.

Binns tried to improvise as there was not a lot of point in kicking for touch when his side would invariably lose out at the line-out so he kept pumping the ball down the middle.

Birmingham with their one-dimensional attack failed to stretch the heroic Otley defence and even when Otley were down to 14 men and Birmingham were camped on their try line there was little danger of them scoring.

Otley's first points came when Binns slotted over a drop goal. From the re-start Liu broke away to be well supported by Paul Wilson and Phil Griffin but it was Jonathan Burke who burst through the middle finding Andy Brown in support.

He threw an overhead pass to Kirkby who raced in at the corner. Binns added a fine conversion into the wind.

Binns gave Otley a 13-0 lead with a penalty but Birmingham pulled back three points with a penalty on the stroke of half-time.

This was for a failing to release infringement which saw prop Ronnie Kelley getting his marching orders.

There was little to distinguish the second period. Birmingham looked dangerous only when kicking to the corner for flying winger Andy Smallwood but the cover was always there, if only just, and the home pack, with excellent help from their half-backs, controlled the game.

They spent long passages of time on the visitors' line but it was not until the last minute the 84th, that Brown scampered over as Birmingham ran out of tacklers.

Otley - I Shuttleworth; S Smith, R Whatmuff, M Billington, M Kirkby (M Walker 65 mins); S Binns, A Brown; R Kelley, H Liu (D Sayers 55 mins), D Hall, P Williams, I Carroll, J Burke (A Pogson 45 and 51 mins, N Bland 65 mins), J Tiffany, P Griffin.

Birmingham/Solihull - D Knight; A Smallwood (J Minshul 78 mins), R Hyslop, M Roberts, N Baxter; M Gallagher, G Cattle; N Lewis, (D Gallagher 78 mins), G Houston (A Hubbleday 62 mins), L Fortey, N Fletcher ( J Hyde 73 mins), N Underhill, E Orgee, T Jordan, M Brookes (R Salisbury 69 mins).

l On Saturday Otley make the long trek to Henley.

Team from: I Shuttleworth, M Walker, S Smith, R Whatmuff, M Billington, P Greaves, S Gardner, S Binns, A Brown, P Wright, R Kelly, A Pogson, D Sayers, Hapafila Liu, D Hall, I Carroll, P Curtis, P Williams, P Griffin, J Burke, J Tiffany, N Bland.

Saracens (for match to be arranged) from: R Duckett, W Darby, J Davis, T Foster, R Leighton, L Clarke, J Henry, M Birch, G Cassidy, D Setterington, A Tindall, M Hellewell, S Rice, R Lyons, S Hudson, S Connor, A Boyle, I Judson, I Spence, M Wright, M Gillson. (kick-off 2.15 pm).

Tongans (home to Cleckheaton, meet at 1.15 pm for 2.15 pm kick-off): S Barton; P Ayres, A Keeler, A Edson, C Jackson; W Foster, J Poostie; C Booth, C Minchella, C Burns, S Henson, M Keeler, N Girling, J Vyvyan, S Oliver, G Mitchell, G Guyers, A Midgeley, D Green, B Birkhill.

Viscounts (home to Roundhegians, meet at 1.15 pm for 2.15 pm kick-off): Players to be notified by Jamie Chappell.