Our hosts were promoted last season from the National League 3 Midlands division as champions, having only lost three matches all season. While it appears they may struggling to find their feet in this higher league, despite being over a third of the way into the season they have only played three games at home.

Of those three games, their only win have been against Stourbridge (33-10); having gone down to Hull Ionians (19-36) and Harrogate (24-28). Their away wins have been against fellow strugglers Birmingham & Solihull (36-38) and Hull (11-15) last weekend.

Their top scorer is the ex-Otley fly half, Ben Cooper who, after the 2012-13 season, went up to Scotlandl before returning south for the start of this season when he signed for Coventry. Having been loaned out he has converted 14 tries and 10 penalties. If he is not on the field, doubtless he will be supporting one or both teams!!

While Broadstreet RUFC was formed in 1929, it can trace its history back to 1911 when the Broad Street School was opened in 1911. In 1929, after the school had won the Coventry F.C. Shield, one of the oldest trophies in the world for schoolboy rugby, the ‘Old Boys Club’ was formed with the help of Harold Temple ‘Pop’ Suddens, the school sports master and later headmaster. With seven former schoolboy internationals, it was a formidable team. In fact, the school went on to have twenty-two schoolboy England players and three senior England players, Ivor Preece, Ernie Robinson and Phil Judd.

Like many clubs in their early days, they started out in a farmer’s field – at Bedlam Lane and they remained there until after the Second World War. After the war, the club rented grounds in various parts of the city, eventually using the Memorial Park as its base until the 1950s. A site for a new ground was purchased in Henley Road, and they then built a clubhouse which was opened in 1955. Over the next few years the club extended and, when it outgrew the premises in 1970 it decided to sell the pitches but retain the buildings and these still house a thriving social club. The new and present ground was opened in 1973 was named the Ivor Preece Field, in honour of Ivor Preece, England and British Lions, who was also their Club President at the time.

Otley squad for Saturday

Jason Moss, Mark Chivers, Adam Blades, Sam Cook, Stephen Costello, Jack Scott-Paul, Matt Heaton, Freddie Watson, Stephen Depledge, Janes White, Harry Hudson, Michael Coady, Tom Rock, Henry Roberts, Kristian Sharples

George Burkinshaw, Ben Steele, Alex Beaumont, Jonathan Stannard and Joe Armitage.

For those travelling to the game - CV3 2AY. From the M69 continue onto the A46 until the A428 (Rugby Road) roundabout. The ground is just after that roundabout on the left hand side.

Go Otley!!