Otley 16-27 A-Team

Rotherham defeated Otley as expected at Cross Green - five tries to two - but the score does not fully reflect the nature of their performance.

Stray passing, dropped ball and fluffed try-scoring opportunities characterised this display. Indeed, despite scoring three tries in the first half the A-team - flat and mediocre in the second half - allowed the home side off the hook.

Otley opened the scoring - from a penalty given for offside in front of the posts on 13 minutes - but it was one-way traffic in the first half as John Cox, Jamie Sutton and Duncan Richardson finished off convincing moves for the visitors on 19, 26 and 40 minutes.

Having initially struggled with the Otley scrum, Rotherham established first-phase dominance; they were imperious in the lineout and quickly built a platform from which to win this game.

A satisfactory opening half saw Rotherham leading 17-6 at the interval.

They further extended their lead with a try from Geoff Griffiths. Scoring the try of the day, he picked up the ball near the Otley 10-metre line and glided past numerous defenders to finish his solo effort in the corner on 60 minutes.

At this point they looked to be in complete control and a sizable score looked on the cards but - inexplicably - they allowed Otley back into the game and allowed the home pack to dictate events in such a way that for much of the last half-hour, Roth were restricted to their own territory.

Otley's rally began around  the hour mark, they recorded two tries on 57 and 70 minutes, the latter scored after a comedy of errors when a hopeful hack by Otley deep into Rotherham territory was fumbled by a number of defenders. What should have been a straightforward clearance turned into a try, Otley's grateful on-rushing winger touched down in the corner to make the score 22-16 - an upset was on the cards!

Although Otley managed to get within striking distance, they faded with Rotherham in the ascendancy as a late try from Gareth McComb in the 80th minute - making his comeback after surgery in the summer - brought relief to the visitors.

Next week the Academy take on Geoff  Wappett's Bradford & Bingley side in a league game at Clifton Lane on Saturday, 23rd September. Kick-off at 3pm (£2 admission).