Blackheath had earmarked this match as a must-win game and were boosted by the return of their first choice half-back pairing and captain. In the build-up to the game, all the talk from 'the Club' was of preparing themselves for the prospect of Otley's abrasive forward pack and uncompromising defence. That is exactly what they came up against but they were unable to deal with either as Otley out-muscled, out-thought and out-played their London hosts.
Blackheath's failure to deal with the kick-off allowed Otley to apply early pressure. Second row Paul Williams returned a clearing kick and quick recycling enabled an attack to be launched down the short-side. Hooker Ben Steele broke clear before offloading early to Alastair Monks who in turn drew the full back to unleash Matt Stockdale down the touchline. The No.8 showed an exceptional turn of foot for a big bloke to outpace the covering defence with a 40 metre sprint to the line. Skipper Ian Shuttleworth stroked over the conversion to make it 0-7 to Otley after 5 minutes.
Blackheath's players and supporters were visibly concerned by the ruthless opening phases of rugby from the visitors. Their England 7s scrum-half Joe Simpson then soon realised their were another 8 players in the opposition ranks when felled on halfway by a crunching tackle from Williams as he crabbed across the pitch.
A 42-metre penalty attempt by Shuttleworth after 15 minutes bounced back off the cross bar's black dot but he then converted a well-struck penalty soon after to make it 0-10.
Otley looked certain to add to their score when the Otley forwards marched their counterparts from near halfway to just 5 metres from the Club's line. The hosts were penalised for pulling down the maul to prevent a certain try (penalty try perhaps given what was to come soon after!?). Unfortunately, the first intervention by one of the touch-judges meant that the penalty was reversed and Blackheath were let off big time.
Otley soon had the opposition on the back-foot following Blackheath's full-back Frank Neale bungling a couple of rare opportunities for the hosts. From a scrum in midfield on the Blackheath '22, scrum-half Dave McCormack broke to the right before grubbering behind the opposition left winger. Otley right winger Steve Parsons was on hand to collect the bouncing ball and crash in at the corner. Shuttleworth fired over an excellent touchline conversion in the face of some unsavoury heckling from the home support to make it 0-17 to Otley.
With 5 minutes remaining in the first half, Otley had a rare lapse and the loose ball was gathered by Blackheath. Blackheath took play into the Otley '22 but were receiving no change from the Otley defence. Then came the first of 3 body blows inside 2 minutes. Firstly, Kris Fullman was sin-binned for offside at the side of ruck and the ball was kicked into the corner. Blackheath's catch-and-drive attempt was battered but second-row Richard Snowball was sent to join Fullman in the sin-bin.
Blackheath unsurprisingly kicked for the corner once again but what was to come from Otley's pack of 6 men against Blackheath's 8 was truly outstanding. Their desire and technique was so good that Blackheath's driving maul was dismantled and driven back into touch with the ball being dropped on the floor. The merry flag-waver somehow came to the conclusion that Blackheath deserved another go and awarded them the throw in. Once more, Blackheath were knocked back but as the maul crabbed across the field the referee decided to award a penalty try in a most unjust fashion for those 6 Otley forwards. Blackheath 7 Otley 17 at half-time and Otley down to 13 men for the first 8 minutes of the second stanza.
Blackheath sprayed the ball about in an attempt to use their 2 man advantage but the black & white wall in front of them remained impregnable with some crunching tackles being made by the midfield trio of Kyle Dench (on for the injured Monks), Paul Mooney and Rob Whatmuff. When Blackheath openside flanker Dave Allen did break clear on half-way he was felled by Shuttleworth on the '22 with an excellent last-ditch tackle.
A similar "ball 'n all" effort by Shuttleworth saved another try at the right hand corner flag but the crowd's over-reaction saw a yellow card issued to Rob Whatmuff!
Despite Otley suffering a numerical disadvantage once again, they continued to look the more effective and streetwise side. Intelligent kicking by McCormack allowed Otley to clear their lines and put the hosts' back 3 under pressure with the assistence of Otley's chasing flying wingers.
With time running out, Otley were awarded a penalty on halfway which they would have used to play out time in the opposition '22. Again on the intervention of the touch-judge, the penalty was reversed and it was Blackheath who had chance to launch one last attack. With inevitably tired legs in the Otley ranks, the ball was transferred to the left where winger Piotrowksi had a clear run to the line for a consolation try. Matt Leek failed to add the conversion and upon the final whistle sounding soon after, Otley were crowned deserved victors.
A tremendous effort by all concerned given the testing circumstances imposed on them. The pack once again excelled, scoring opportunities were taken when created and the defensive effort (especially when reduced in number) was magnificent.
Otley's win and Manchester's defeat takes Otley to the top of the league table which, based on recent performances is justified. Otley now look forward to maintaining this run of good form when they face Wharfedale at Cross Green next weekend.
Blackheath: Neale, Brown, Wigram, Maurer, Piotrowksi, Leek, Simpson, Legg, Natera, Brett, Bason (capt), Vanner, Dewale, Allen, Aseme
Otley: Shuttleworth (capt); Parsons, Whatmuff, Mooney, Smith; Monks (Dench 25), McCormack; Trethewey (Wederall 65), Steele (Plevey 55), Fullman; Snowball, Williams; Tiffany, Bland (Andre 67), Stockdale
Referee: R Phillips (RFU)
MATCH STATISTICS
Blackheath 12
Tries: Penalty Try, Piotrowski
Cons: Leek
Otley 17
Tries: Stockdale, Parsons
Cons: Shuttleworth (2)
Pens: Shuttleworth
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