Fresh from taking their medicine at Northampton last week, Bedford looked to the EDF National Trophy to salvage something from a season of underachievement by their standards. Shorn of only their young loanees, Bedford fielded all their seasoned players for the trip North.

Otley made a number of changes to the previous weekend's starting line-up. In the forwards, Steve Trethewey, Paul Williams and Nathan Bland were either unavailable or not fully fit so Ryan Wederall, Howard Parr and Xavier Andre started. Scott Plevey was also unavailable so Duncan Sayers was among the replacements. In the backs, Adam Greendale was unavailable (due to a Guiness A League commitment with Leeds Carnegie on Monday) forcing a re-shuffled backline unable to call on Guy Easterby (on loan at Leinster until end of January), Alistair Monks, leading try-scorer Danny Smith and Robin Kitching. Ian Shuttleworth moved up to fly-half and Kyle Dench went to full-back with John Buchanan starting on the left wing. Matters were compounded when centre Rob Whatmuff left the field after just 10 minutes. Long-term absentees Justin Wring and backrower Dan Hyde were still missing.

Otley started the match strongly after Bedford failed to gather the kick-off. Early pressure from the forwards saw Otley given what proved to be their solitary penalty in the opening quarter. Skipper Ian Shuttleworth stepped up to stroke the kick between the posts to give Otley a 3-0 lead.

Bedford second-row Mauritz Botha reclaimed the re-start and Bedford had their first opportunity to attack. Playing with advantage being given, Bedford spread the ball right only for the last pass to go to ground. The referee took play back to the other side of the field to award the penalty despite Bedford having gone 20 yards forward during the advantage. Bedford fly-half Ben Patston kicked to the corner to see the first line-out of the match. Otley prop Kris Fullman was then adjudged to have mistimed his defensive drive and was penalised and sin-binned after only 3 minutes - an extremely harsh and costly decision. Bedford again kicked for the line-out and hooker Dan Richmond was driven over. James Pritchard converted to make it 3-7 to the Blues.

Otley's defence stood firm despite being reduced in number and damaged by a raft of penalties. With Fullman back on the field they soon had another opportunity to defend a Bedford catch and drive. The difference was significant as the big Bedford pack were driven back 20 yards before crumpling into a heap.

Otley were then reduced to 14 men once more when Shuttleworth was sent to the sin-bin for a high tackle as Bedford scrum-half Karl Dickson made a bid for the line. As Otley looked to re-organise, Patston spotted Pritchard unmarked on the far touchline and launched a cross-field kick which was taken by Pritchard who then crossed in the right hand corner. Pritchard converted to make it 3-14 to Bedford.

Otley then produced a scintillating piece of play. An excellent pass by Dench saw centre Paul Mooney slice through in midfield. Mooney linked up with supporting No.8 Matt Stockdale before the ball was quickly recycled down the right. Backrower James Tiffany galloped away but was unable to find right winger Steve Parsons with the scoring pass which floated into touch.

Otley remained camped in the Bedford '22 and the home forwards continued to give their National One opposition a torrid time. Otley's pack marched towards the line and were only denied a score by ielegal play by Blues' backrower Nic Strauss who was duly sent for a 10 minute rest. Otley had dominated against a full Blues' pack so a try from the resulting catch and drive seemed inevitable and so it proved as second row Howard Parr was driven over. Shuttleworth was back on to attempt the conversion which shaved the wrong side of the upright but Otley were back in it at 8-14.

Bedford attacked for the last 5 minutes of the first half but Otley's defence seemed to be holding firm until Bedford left winger Alex Page squeezed over in the corner. Pritchard's conversion dropped short but the referee's whistle immediately sounded and Bedford led 8-19 at the interval.

Otley dominated the second half but Bedford's defence stood firm to deny Otley a score which would have set up a tense last quarter. A late penalty by Pritchard was the only score during the second half as Bedford held on to pass through into the next round.

Otley introduced most of their replacements for the last 15 minutes with young fly-half James Murray impressing with his line kicking and bravery in defence.

Matt Stockdale produced another robust performance at No.8 while second row Richard Snowball delivered another power-packed display in the engine room. All the Otley players stood up to be counted in a typically gritty manner to make it an awkward afternoon for the visitors.

Otley now look forward to the challenge of maintaining their position at the top of National League Two when they meet Westcombe Park at Cross Green next weekend.

Otley: Dench; Parsons, Whatmuff (Thoy 10, Murray 65), Mooney, Buchanan; Shuttleworth (capt), McCormack; Wederall (Turner 65), Steele (Sayers 67), Fullman; Snowball, Parr (Hawkins 65); Tiffany, Andre, Stockdale (Turner 5-15, Ford 70)

Bedford Blues: Burke, Page, Roberts, Allen (capt), Pritchard, Patston, Dickson, Volland, Richmond, Fortuna, Phillips, Botha, Strauss, Harding, McKay

Referee: R Maybank (RFU)

MATCH STATISTICS

Otley 8

Tries: Parr

Pens: Shuttleworth

Bedford 22

Tries: Richmond, Pritchard, Page

Cons: Pritchard (2)

Pens: Pritchard

Click here for photos of the match courtesy of Paul Barrett