Otley 7

WORCESTER 68

WORCESTER, who are favourites to win the Jewson League Division One title marked their first ever visit to Cross Green, on Saturday, by rolling Otley over with ease.

They played some scintillating rugby coupled with some some powerful forward play and as the final score suggests Otley had no answer whatsoever.

Despite Worcester's superiority in all departments Otley tried their hardest to stay in the game but they were just not strong enough, particularly in the forwards. In all Worcester have 14 full-time players and 10 of them were on view at Cross Green.

The new year so far has not been a happy one for Otley, who have won one and drawn one of seven matches they have played.

They have come up against some strong teams in recent weeks but this Worcester team look to be the side for Division Two next season. They never gave up and until the final whistle, with a comfortable lead, the visitors still pressed Otley hard and were searching for even more points.

Worcester are a side hungry for points and success and the way they have developed in recent seasons then they thoroughly deserve their success.

Otley knew they were in for a hard match but they surely never expected Worcester to come at them so quickly and so early in the game. Instead by settling in Worcester ran hard at Otley from the kick-off and from their first move they scored the first of their 12 tries, within 45 seconds. By the fourth minute they were 12-0 in the lead and so far as Otley were concerned the writing was on the wall.

Worcester won the set scrums, line-outs and mauls with ease and their distribution of the ball at times was crisp and clean.

A strong feature of their play was the strong and direct running of their backs, particularly centre Rob Myler, who often cut through the Otley defence with ease and left-winger Nick Baxter, who ran in six superb tries to create a league record.

At the 10 minute stage of the match Otley temporarily quietened the visiting supporters when centre Mark Billington, a determined player, crashed over for a try which was converted by fly-half Simon Hawkins. This cut Worcester's lead to 12-7.

Worcester's earlier points had come from a four second try from right winger Paul Holford, which was converted by Rich Les Bas. Then in the fourth minute Nick Baxter, reminiscent of Rugby League's Billy Boston of years gone by, scored his first try and then added five more in the 19th, 32nd, 44th, 63rd and 80th minutes.

Holford (15 mins), Le Bas (13 mins), No 8 Jim Jenner (28 and 58 mins) and prop Dean Ball (46 mins) scored tries. Les Bas converted four of the tries.

Otley's home game with Harrogate, on Saturday, has been postponed to March 28 but this date has yet to be confirmed. Otley travel to Rugby on March 7. A coach for supporters is to be organised by Keith Carroll, who can be contacted on 0113-2503033.

Otley Saracens 20

Worcester 47

Saracens knew that they had a tough task on their hands as their opponents recently scored over 100 points against Harrogate. The visitors had a very big, well drilled pack and strong running backs and Saracens defence was kept at full stretch to hold them to 22-7 at half-time, Otley's try coming from a darting run by Richard McCabe, converted by Anthony Cadman.

Sam Gardner and Mike Feeley came on in the second half for Chris Stott and Andy Hargreaves and good defensive work managed to restrict Worcester to 25 points.

The pack kept grafting to the end with Tony Greig in the back row getting through a lot of work and he was deservedly rewarded with a try following a strong run.

Saracen's other try came from a good back move and full-back Dave Boreham joined the

ine to squeeze in at the corner.

Tony Cadman missed the conversion but kicked a penalty. Saracens team spirit stood them in good stead against a very good side as they kept trying to play open rugby but they

had to concede their unbeaten home record.

Halifax 19

Otley Tongans 28

Halifax, with no first team game, fielded a strong Second XV at Ovenden and with both sides prepared to run the ball and a referee who allowed advantage an exciting game resulted.

Playing up the slope in the home side game

at Otley from the start and with excellent support they soon opened the scoring with a try under the posts. Otley tried to rally but could ake little headway until Luke Kendall looped round Charlie Maunders to score and add the conversion.

Facing the slope Tongans made the ideal start driving down the centre of the field before releasing Charlie Maunders who rounded the winger to score wide out.

Bruce Stachan gathered on the re-start and made a surging run before linking and interpassing saw Andy Edson squeeze in at the corner.

A Luke Kendall penalty made it 14-20 but Halifax hit back and after pressure on the line their big prop crashed over.

Tongans then scored a superb try from hooker Mickey Peel to bring up in support to give Jarrod Merredew the scoring pass. AnAdie Midgeley drop goal after another attack sealed Tongans win to make it four in a row.

Roundhegians 7

Otley Viscount 18

Viscounts continued their improved form with a good win at Roundhegians. The pack had the edge in the set scrums, Richard Hall scoring from two pushovers.

Alistair Scott-Somers and Jonathan Henry were the best of the backs, the former scoring a try and skipper Jamie Chappell kicking a penalty. The home side scored a converted try

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