Otley's coach Peter Clegg must be thinking it never rains but it pours.

Already with a lengthy injury list, the relegation-threatened National League One club will be without Samoan back-row forward Maifea Maifea for the rest of the season.

He has had an operation to remove a brain tumour.

Clegg said: "He was a fantastic signing for us but then he was taken ill with a suspected brain tumour.

"He was operated on just before Christmas and for-tunately it was benign.

"He is expected to be out of action for another six months but he has been given a big boost by being selected for the Samoan World Cup squad. That will give him a great incentive in his recovery."

As if this wasn't bad enough, Doncaster Knights have recalled loan signing, prop Steve Barretto.

As well as several players breaking bones, Otley also have soldier Steve Trethewey and RAF Fl Lt Howard Parr called away intermittently to serve their country.

With Dave Whitehead in New York on business, Dan Hyde calling off sick and Parr added to the injury list, Otley's resources were already thin before Saturday's 24-11 defeat at London Welsh - a victory which moved the Exiles above third-from-bottom Otley.

Then after the match came news of Barretto's recall.

Club secretary Marc Lawrence said: "It really has been an horrendous season for injuries.

"I don't think Simon Binns will play again this season, Paul Williams has a broken leg, Paul Mooney is still out with a break, Howard Parr has Achilles trouble, Matt Stockdale and Justin Wring have knee injuries and Scott Connor has a shoulder injury.

"We got Nathan Bland back after injury last Saturday but then lost Scott Connor, and now with Baretto recalled, things do not look good.

"On the positive side we will have the two boys from Newcastle Falcons to help us and we have taken over the contract of Doncaster Knights' Jon Benson so he will be with us for the rest of the season."

The National Trophy game at North Walsham a week tomorrow is something Otley don't need at this stage, and Lawrence said they may well take a lot of second-teamers to the Norfolk outpost.

"The focus after all is staying in this division," he said.

Clegg added: "We have to be realistic, we are not going to win this cup and our priority has got to be concentrating on staying in National One. If that means resting some of our players who are carrying injuries then we will do."

He realises that Otley, who are at home to fifth-from-bottom Sedgley Park tomorrow, will have to dig in if they are to avoid relegation.

However, Clegg remains optimistic that his squad have the battling qualities to retain their status and feels the supporters can do a lot to help his team. And he feels that getting some of his injured players back will mean they will win enough games to avoid the drop.

He said: "It has been an uphill fight for us but we always knew it would be as we are in a very competitive league and only have a small squad."