OTLEY 15 PLYMOUTH ALBION 14

Poor kicking in the first half prevented Otley from gaining much advantageous field position in the first half and Plymouth went into the interval with a 5-14 lead.

The hosts lost captain Glen Wilson after only 20 minutes with a leg injury and he was followed off the pitch at half-time by his replacement Matt Stockdale. Fortunately, Otley were able to call on the ever-reliable Scott Connor who slotted into the back-row to add bulk and aggression to an already dominant pack.

Otley came out firing in the second half and must have enjoyed around 80% of possession which forced Albion into what seemed like incessant defensive work. To their credit, Plymouth battled hard as they responded to their coach Graham Dawe’s pre-match call for “gladiatorial” efforts in Yorkshire.

Unfortunately, the pressure told in the last quarter as Otley registered the two second half tries needed to wrestle victory from their opponents.

Plymouth took the lead after 10 minutes when winger Nick Defty (a fly-half by trade) converted a simple penalty chance to make it 0-3.

Otley rallied and notched their first try from one of the few first half incursions into the Albion half. From a scrum 15 metres out, Dave Scully fed Rob Kitching who shrugged off an attempted tackle by opposite number Luke Arscott to score near the corner flag. Kitching fell short with the conversion but Otley led 5-3 after 15 minutes.

Two more penalties by Defty and a well-taken try by Argentine international flanker Martin Schusterman extended Albion’s lead to 5-14 at half-time but it was clear that Otley still had the ability to win the game if they could take the battle to Albion up front in the right parts of the field.

Prompted by Scully’s directives and probing kicks in the second half, Albion were forced into coughing up possession allowing Otley’s pack to set about their counterparts.

Eventually from one of numerous close range line-outs, the forwards mauled hooker Mark Luffman over the line on the hour mark. Kitching could not add the extras but Otley were within striking distance at 10-14.

Sensing a much-needed victory the crowd urged their side on as the onslaught continued for the remaining 20 minutes.

Winger Waisale Sovatabua was now proving to be an extra handful for the visitors as he helped share the workload with some powerful runs. It was a run by Sovatabua which set play up for the winning score.

As the ball dropped out of the maul it seemed like Otley’s chance was over. However, the ball was picked up by Otley talisman Justin Wring who like all quick-thinking front-rowers spotted a gap in the Albion rearguard. As the green n’ white defence parted like the Red Sea, “Moses” Bull carved through before crashing over near to the posts with two Albion defenders clinging to his back.

Kitching hit the post with the conversion attempt but nobody cared as the referee had already indicated that time was up. At last Otley were on the right end of a last gasp victory after suffering four similar reverses at Cross Green this season.

The whole team deserve praise for their part in a victory which showed what Otley have been all about in recent years. Desire and pride were abundant and were manifested in the desperate work-rate throughout.

Flanker Nathan Bland worked tirelessly to snuff out Albion dangerman Alfie To’oala with several crunching tackles and he dominated the breakdown along with fellow flanker James Tiffany who was also a thorn in Plymouth’s side in the line-out.

Second-row Jason Oakes was also everywhere as he provided the cornerstone along with Fullman, Wring & Co to the driving mauls which eventually broke their adversaries hearts.

Hopefully Otley will now kick on and will look forward to their next match on 25th March away at Pertemps Bees (who were thrashed 16-68 at home to Bedford Blues this weekend) knowing that victory will go a long way to securing their hard-earned National One status.

Otley: Kitching, Dench, Whatmuff, Mooney, Sovatabua, Hyndman, Scully, Wring, Luffman, Fullman, Oakes, Parr (Williams 70), Tiffany, Bland, Wilson (Stockdale 25, Connor 40)

Plymouth Albion: Arscott, Defty, Van Eyk, Fisilau, Sestaret, Barnes, Cane, Rice, Pearl, Hopkins, Lewis, Hayes, Schusterman, Thomas, To'oala

Referee: D Newitt (RFU)

MATCH STATISTICS

Otley 15

Tries: Kitching, Luffman, Wring

Plymouth Albion 14

Tries: Schusterman

Penalties: Defty (3)

Oscar's Gamestar: Jason Oakes / Nathan Bland

Oscar's Gamebreaker: Justin Wring

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