Local derby game...

It was a match up against West Park only a week after the Yorkshire Cup qualifiers, and Otley opened their account in the local derby with a spirited performance.
In the first period, Jude Hall was rampaging around breakdown and was rewarded with two superb short range tries both from quick "pick and go" moves from the breakdown. On both occasions, he was carrying West Park players over the try line as well as the ball.
The forwards of Harry Gillson, Noel Gillson and Ned Hawker were dominating the breakdown and with lovely second row support from Joe Townsend and William Colllinson, there was some fantastic rucking and mauling going on.
Alex Bowdler made a powerful run through from the 22 to go over for his first of the session and it was looking like the forwards were going to get all the glory in the match report.
Henry Stoddart was giving the backs the best service at scrum half and Jake Bentley was making the hard yards at fly-half and kicked one of the extras, before having to leave the game with an ankle injury. Louis Tarleton stepped up to the position and kept the service out wide to the flying centre of Louis Martin and out the wings, new signing Oliver Wade was scorching up the pitch and tackling the rampant West Park.
West Park did not make it easy for the Otley team, and time and again kept the pressure on, testing the Otley defences and denying tries with a handful of attempts held up.
With expansive passing being the order of the day, Otley were finally rewarded with another try from a bursting, straight-ish (!) run down the wing from Willem Johnson. William Collinson took over the kicking duties and added the extras.
The first session ended 26-0 to Otley but the score didn't reflect the effort West Park had exerted in trying to get over the line.

After a short break, Otley made some changes to the line up, Fergus Henry had finally found his gum shield so he could come on (!), Jamie Peel was in the centres, Jack Bolton and Sam Myers were now out on the wings, with hard tackling William May at fullback. Charlie Birkett came into the forwards as Jude needed a rest after the brace of tries!!
West Park came out all guns blazing and were quickly rewarded with a lovely well worked try and conversion to lead 7-0.
After some lovely passing work Sam Myers found himself out wide with the ball in hand and was so close to scoring in the corner it was only a spirited West Park drive to touch that denied him his first of try of the season.
Otley were still not out of it and after very evenly matched phases of play with the ball, Harry Gillson levelled the score with a bursting run through the West Park line and then converted the extras. The session ended 7-7

In the final third session, Otley made some more changes, with Jake Bentley hobbling back on (it was just a scratch!!), tough tackler Joe Simon took the fullback role and Alex Bowdler was in at centre.
Ned Hawker made a nuisance of himself in the forwards and stripped, stole and robbed the ball to finally go over for a score. West Park were undeterred and immediately scored through great running and passing around an Otley defensive line that was tiring a little.
With more expansive play Otley shipped the ball out wide and Alex Bowdler made a committed run from 30m out to run straight through the West Park fullback and over to score, picking up a nice bruised dead-leg on the way.
West Park did not give up and were rewarded with a lovely try in the dying minutes to almost draw level. The kick was missed and Otley finished 14-12.
Our thanks goes to West Park for a fantastic morning of rugby and to Jon, Ed and the other coaches at West Park for bring a great squad down to Otley.
The final score did not reflect the levels of teamwork, discipline and talent put in by the visitors. We look forward to the next fixture with them.