Match Preview

Another September is upon us and sees the start of the 2017-18 rugby season.

Otley 1st XV play Stourbridge (k.o 2:00) whilst the Saracens are away at Yarnbury Georgians (k.o 3:00).

The first game of the season is never easy to gauge, as all teams will be making last minute tweaks following their pre-season matches. Otley came through August with a win and narrow loss against lower league opposition, whilst Stourbridge went down 14-46 at home to Chinnor. They were also due to play Birmingham Moseley away on the Bank Holiday weekend but the result is hard to find.

Otley skipper Freddie Watson has set the bar high in terms of the club’s ambitions for the coming season. Having finished 11th, and having diced with relegation for a while, Watson said "We definitely want to do better than last year. We want to finish in the top half (eighth or better) and ideally in the top four”.

2017 was a year to forget for Stourbridge. The Midlanders struggled for positive results and after looking as though they could challenge for a top two spot, they ended in eighth place. This was out of character for them as they have been looking at the promotion places in years prior to that. With Sale’s performance last year and close season recruitment it may be a foregone conclusion, although doubtless many teams will want to give them a run for their money.

Both teams will be looking to use the green Cross Green pitch to play good rugby, Watson adding: "We still want to play in the expansive style that we have before and chuck the ball around, but have a bit more structure in terms of our forwards, with new line-out calls. Ultimately we need to play for the full 80 minutes and "Stourbridge are a big set of lads and are always good, so we will need to be at it from the off."

Don’t forget kick off is at 2:00 now and this game is sponsored by Match Sponsored by Kirsty Gagen and Kate Willet from Unity Hair and Beauty Salon, Otley.

Let’s start building the Cross Green fortress again!