Otley played most of the opening quarter in the opposition half but 'Combe were showing why they have only lost a handful of games this season by only small margins. Their defence was finally breached when openside flanker Xavier Andre, a constant attacking threat, broke through a tackle in midfield. Andre then threaded a pass through to full-back Ian Shuttleworth on his outside who in turn drew his opposite number by passing the ball out to right winger Steve Parsons who crossed for an excellent score. Fly-half Adam Greendale stroked over the conversion and Otley led 7-0.

Greendale made amends for an earlier miss, by kicking a penalty goal to make it 10-0 after 25 minutes.

Otley had another chance to score in the first half. Shuttleworth collected a clearance kick on halfway and transferred the ball infield to winger Rob Kitching who spotted space in behind the 'Combe left wing. Kitching's cross-field kick was chased on by Parsons who looked a certainty to score. The ball just failed to sit up and Parsons opted to nudge the ball with his foot but the ball then bounced awkwardly over the line and the in-form wingman was unable to ground it.

A penalty by 'Combe fly-half James Whittingham reduced the arrears to 10-3 at half-time which did not reflect Otley's dominance.

Andre was stopped just short early in the second stanza but sustained pressure soon saw the visitors' defence run out of numbers. After good work by the forwards and a plunging run by centre Jon Buchanan, the ball was taken to the left and a long pass from Shuttleworth was collected by centre Kyle Dench who rode the last tackle to crash in at the corner flag. Otley led 15-3.

A loss of concentration then saw the kick off dropped & 'Combe were presented with a rare chance to attack. Their efforts were rewarded when prop Steve Croall barged over from short range in the left hand corner. Whittingham was wide with the conversion but with 15 minutes remaining 'Combe were staggeringly within a converted score of the lead.

Otley immediately switched through the gears lifting the tempo dramatically. Buchanan then scored the first of his two tries cutting a superb line from a Greendale pass to crash over next to the posts. Greendale converted and Otley led 22-8.

Soon after the re-start, a cross-field kick by Greendale was gathered by 'Combe's right winger Lee Campion on half-way but the ball went loose in contact and Buchanan was on hand to hack the ball towards the try-line. Another delicate touch 5 yards from the line then allowed the impressive Buchanan to score his second try of the game and importantly Otley's fourth. Otley led 27-8 but were by no means finished.

Kitching made a searing break down the left but was taken out by a high tackle from 'Combe's replacement second row Adam Preocanin as he cut infield. The 'Combe forward was duly sin-binned and Otley applied even more relentless pressure.

Greendale once again had a hand in Otley's fifth try. With a 3 on 3 down the right-hand side, the England U-20s fly-half placed a grubber kick behind the defence and Shuttleworth won the race to the ball to score in the clubhouse corner. Greendale added an excellent conversion to make it 34-8 to the hosts who were now playing with real quality.

Having created the platform for the rest of the team, the forwards were then rewarded with a score from a powerful driving maul as second-row Howard Parr, who also enjoyed an excellent individual performance, crashed over. Scotland U-19s fly-half James Murray, on as a replacement for Greendale, converted to register his first points for the Club and Otley led 41-8.

The final score came from the ever dangerous Kitching who collected a wide pass from Dench after sublime handling from replacement prop Steve Trethewey. Kitching obliged by racing in at the corner. Murray couldn't land the difficult conversion but the referee's whistle sounded soon after as Otley celebrated a thumping 46-8 win in what was an exhillerating performance from the National Two league leaders.

Otley now look forward to next weekend's trip to relegation threatened Halifax who will be looking to make a good account of themselves. Heads will need to be on!

Otley: Shuttleworth (capt); Parsons, Dench, Buchanan, Kitching; Greendale (Murray 75), McCormack; Wederall (Trethewey 55), Steele, Fullman; Snowball (Trethewey 25-33), Parr; Tiffany (Sayers 65), Andre, Stockdale (Williams 10)

Westcombe Park:

MATCH STATISTICS

Otley 46

Tries: Buchanan (2), Parsons, Dench, Shuttleworth, Parr, Kitching

Cons: Greendale (3), Murray

Westcombe Park 8

Tries: Croall

Pens: Whittingham

Click here for photos of the match courtesy of Paul Barrett

Click here for individual league records