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Otley's Dave McCormack

Otley 23 Nuneaton 5

They eventually extended their unbeaten run in the league to 12 matches to now sit seven points above second placed Stourbridge who they visit a week on March 15.

That will be a real clash of the Titans at Stourton Park with Stourbridge having lost only one game in their last nine whilst averaging 31 points a game.

Their only defeat in that spell came at the hands of Blaydon, a 29-20 reverse away from home.

So Otley have a week off now to prepare for this clash.

Against lowly Nuneaton Otley were 5-3 down at the break despite starting well enough.

Richard Snowball, chased the kick-off, charged down a kick then brought the full back down behind his line but a penalty - the first of many - was conceded at the five metre scrum.

The gale force winds made handling difficult and the first-half was not really one to remember.

Otley conceded some soft penalties whilst they were in good attacking positions but they lost the ball in contact so were unable to convert their wind advantage into points.

Two successive penalties had Otley back in their 22 but, following a turnover, Ian Shuttleworth eased the situation with a superb 60m clearance.

The hosts lay siege to the visitors' line, gaining a penalty under the posts which Robin Kitching put away after David Campton was yellow-carded for a deliberate knock-on. Referee Tutti was to show his displeasure on two further occasions, Dan Hyde on 19 minutes and his opposite number Ryan Banks on 58 minutes receiving similar treatment.

Ben Griffiths was lucky not to join him after laying over the ball under the crossbar.

Although conceding lots of possession Otley rarely looked in danger but they were caught napping when Shuttleworth was turned over on half-way.

Quick crossfield passing saw full-back Robert Cook race away to the corner.

The young fly-half Rick Aley just fell short with a difficult conversion attempt into the wind.

After the break Otley took just three minutes to put Jonathan Buchanan over near the posts for Kitching to convert and this set the winger off on a purple patch.

He kicked a penalty nine minutes later and was tackled into touch just short of the line before forcing his way over on 59 minutes.

He went in at the corner again for a second try and was denied a hat-trick and the bonus point, when, having rounded his man and the line at his mercy, the referee decided that Buchanan was obstructing the defence.

With the officials becoming wiser to Nuneaton's attempts to slow the play down, Otley began to exert their authority.

Otley had introduced all four replacements after 65 minutes but they were unable to add the bonus point try.

Their best chance came when Kitching raced free and found right winger Steve Parsons but he was denied by a last ditch tackle.

Whilst it was disappointing not to gain a bonus point, this was another important win for Otley against a side who showed great determination and played with a pride and passion belying their lowly league status.

Otley: Dench; Parsons, Buchanan, Whatmuff, Kitching; Shuttleworth (capt), Easterby (McCormack 65); Wederall, Steele (Sayers 65), Fullman (Turner 65); Snowball, Parr; Williams (Bland 65), Andre, Hyde Nuneaton: Cook, Cave, Douglas, Peacock, Takarangi, Aley, Thomas, Hartland, Bray, Pickard, Campton, Griffiths, Holmes, Critchley, Banks Referee: Michael Tutti (NZ)

8:38am Thursday 6th March 2008

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