Wharfedale started the match as expected with a high degree of enthusiasm which was rewarded when Andrew Baggett converted a straightforward penalty chance after 4 minutes.

Adam Greendale, back at the club on loan from Leeds Carnegie, missed with a penalty soon after but was to enjoy a good afternoon with the boot thereafter.

Strong running from No.8 Matt Stockdale and right winger Steve Parsons saw Otley get in behind their opponents. From a fine break from Parsons, scrum-half Dave McCormack found full-back Ian Shuttleworth down the right handside who slipped the ball out of the tackle for supporting hooker Ben Steele to crash over. Greendale stroked over the difficult conversion from wide out. Otley 7 Wharfedale 3.

Otley seemed to be their own worst enemies for much of the first half and the Dalesmen benefitted. Baggett converted two more penalties to edge his side in front 7-9 after 30 minutes.

Otley always seemed to have more firepower though and scored their second try before half-time. Controlled driving work from the forwards gradually wore down the Greens' pack and McCormack was able to tag onto the back of a maul before breaking off to score. Greendale converted and Otley led 14-9 at half-time.

Wharfedale made a complete hash of the re-start allowing Otley their first opportunity to lay seige to their line. Robin Kitching (on for the injured Shuttleworth) rounded the covering defence to score wide on the left. Greendale again added a superb conversion and Otley led 21-9.

The "bonus point" try came after 55 minutes and it was the best try of the afternoon. Greendale broke clear 40 metres out and used left winger Danny Smith as his foil to shimmy past the covering defence and round behind the posts. Greendale converted his own try and Otley led 28-9 with a rout on the cards.

Wharfedale were then given the initiative to take something from the match when Otley were reduced to 13 men following yellow cards to Kris Fullman and Richard Snowball. Paradoxically, Otley's defence seems to become even stronger when reduced in number and, just like at Blackheath the previous weekend, the opponents driving mauls from a 5 metre line-out were dismantled. Scrambling defence denied Wharfedale from scoring during this period of play and Otley were able to rub salt into the wounds with 2 further tries.

Following further strong runs from Parsons, Kitching came onto a short ball under the posts to break a weak tackle and score. Greendale converted and Otley led 35-9.

McCormack made a fine break 30 metres out and set-off on a diagonal run to the uprights. With his legs going like the clappers he was just pulled down 5 metres short but slipped an excellent offload "out of the back door" to Stockdale who had supported on the inside. Stockdale crashed over next to the posts and Greendale added the final extras to his own 17 point tally as Otley broke the 40 point marker.

Another excellent victory sees Otley extend their unbeaten to five matches. Otley now look forward to their next challenge being the trip to Blaydon in the first fixture of what will hopefully be a successful 2008.

Otley: Shuttleworth (capt) (Kitching 40); Parsons, Whatmuff, Mooney, Smith; Greendale, McCormack; Trethewey (Wederall 60), Steele (Plevey 60), Fullman; Snowball, Williams; Tiffany, Bland (Andre 70), Stockdale

Wharfedale: Whaites, Hart, Malherbe, Baggett (capt), Horsfall, Gray, Doherty, Horner, Steel, Lister, Capstick, Clements, Allen, Baldwin

MATCH STATISTICS

Otley 42

Tries: Kitching (2), Steele, McCormack, Greendale, Stockdale

Cons: Greendale (6)

Wharfedale 9

Pens: Baggett (3)

Click here for photos of the match courtesy of Paul Barrett

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