WHITCHURCH 0

Otley 76

OTLEY enjoyed their first visit to Jewson Two side Whitchurch where they romped to an easy win in the Tetley Bitter Cup.

None enjoyed it more than Wayne Hartley who was recalled to the side and scored two tries in each half with some incisive running.

Otley made two changes from the selected team with Dave Hall replacing Dean Hardcastle and Robert Whatmuff replacing Phil Maynard.

The Otley pack set the scene pushing their opponents off their own scrummage three times in succession.

'This gave the Otley backs a glut of possession and they responded brilliantly aided and abetted by N0 7 Neil Hargreaves who was first to every breakdown to keep the move flowing.

The opening score in the seventh minute was a routine matter of a line-out catch by Ian Carroll which was driven to the line for skipper Phil Griffin to touch down and Dan Clappison kicked the first of his eight conversions, half of them from the touchline.

The stand-off then scored a try following some confident inter-passing and winger Tom Laureston marked an impressive debut when he outpaced the defence to cross wide out and then almost immediately cut through to set up a maul on the 22 where second row Carroll came in on a good angle and with a good turn of pace to go over and make it 38-0 to Otley.

From the re-start scrum-half Jeremey Tiffen put up a high ball and Simon Smith was up to tackle the full-back and a quick transfer allowed Hartley to race away from half-way.

Both sides made changes at the interval with Otley allowing some of their replacements a game whilst Whitchurch's changes were an attemptto stem the flow.

This they managed for ten minutes until Otley had had time to re-organise and then it was back to piling on the points.

Griffin turned up outside Laureston to open up the second-half scoring.

Otley had brought on Steve Rice for Dave Hall and Rob Lamb for Duncan Sayers and then later in the game Mark Billington replaced Robert Whatmuff and Paul Williams replaced Phil Griffin thus giving the squad a good run out.

Home stand-off Ed Lowe did have one penalty shot at goal but it was too far out for him and he was soon back behind his own line as Smith tore in at the corner with full-back Ryan Duckett free to come into the line whenever he wished.

The Whitchurch defence creaked unmercifully and the last eight minutes produced 23 further points for Otley. Hartley bagged another pair of tries and Smith found time to add another before referee Mr Kent decided that there was no need to add the large amount of injury time.

In the Third Round Otley have been drawn away to New Brighton but having put another Jewson Two side to the sword last Saturday the Cross Green men must be confident that they can make further progress.

The Third Round game will be played on Saturday, November 13.

NO HERO'S RETURN

Try scoring hero Wayne Hartley returns to the Saracens side for Saturday. The first team travel to Lydney for a 1-30 pm kick-off with the following squad - R Duckett; S Smith, R Whatmuff, M Billington, M Kirkby; D Clappison, A Brown; R Kelly, D Sayers, D Hall, P Curtis, P Williams, J Skurr, L Filipo, P Griffin. Repl. P Wright, R Lamb, N Hargreaves.

TOP COACH AWARD

FOR CLEGG

Otley coach Peter Clegg has received the Jewson Coach of the Month award after his side's table topping exploits.

Six wins and a draw from the opening seven fixtures earned Clegg the award for September.

Clegg was keen to point outthat it was an award for the club not just for him.

"It is a reward for the efforts of all connected with the club. Now all we want to do is carry on winning. We have done better than I expected already. There were one or two games where we might have come unstuck but the lads have come through.'

Clegg feels that the size and quality of his squad will ensure that players do not become complacent.

'A few players have been pressing in the second team and they got a game in the cup this weekend and it will be the squad that is important come the end of the season,' he said.

'We have got to look at bringing the second teamers through. There are quite a few who could make an impression in the first team and by the end of the season we are going to need to draw on that.

Clegg took over as Head Coach from Mike Barnett in the close season allowing Barnett to move up to the post of Rugby Administrator.

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