Otley Zebras win tournament (From Wharfedale Observer)

Otley Zebras win Morley tournament

8:42am Thursday 18th October 2012 in Sport

Otley Zebras under-eights went to the Morley Festival with the intention of going one better than they had the week before at the Moortown Festival where they were runners-up.

Otley had two teams entered, the Blues and the Reds Both were in different sides of the draw and were hoping to meet in the final.

The Blues went into the first match against West Park Blacks with hopes high and created plenty of chances but were undone by a West Park side who ran in three tries.

Across the park the Reds fought hard for a draw in a difficult encounter with West Park Blues, 6 - 6, with Dominic Tinslay running in two tries for Otley.

As the morning progressed both sides met tough opposition with the Blues losing 4-3 to Huddersfield A. The Reds however were hitting their straps as they trounced Huddersfield B 8-3, Ben Beale and Iwan Lewis-Jones impressing.

The Reds won their final game 5-1 to qualify for the semi-finals while the Blues drew to make the Vase trophy play-offs. Both sides beat determined opposition to make it through to the finals of their respective trophies.

The Blues met Old Brods in the Vase final. Both sides played well in a defensive game which saw the score remain 0-0 at half-time.

The second half was a different affair with both sides out to score tries and win the Vase. In a fair contest both sides scored three apiece and came away with the trophy shared.

This was followed by the cup final with the Reds playing local rivals West Park. Otley and West Park kept matching each other try for try in a game which had some of the highest quality defensive work allied to some good finishing from both sides.

With almost the last play of the final Otley attacked the West Park try line and following some great offloads Henry Maughan scored the try which won the cup for Otley 5-4.

Otley Zebras under-nines maintained their unbeaten start to the season but just missed out on a second tournament triumph at the Morley festival.

The Zebras won three matches out of four but only managed a draw against Moortown, who emerged overall winners due to scoring more tries.

Moortown were Otley's first opponents and the match ended a try apiece – a result that would have implications for the side to be crowned festival champions.

A comfortable match for the Zebras followed against Huddersfield, with Oliver Aston in bullish form to inspire a 25-0 victory, before in the next game Old Brodleians put up a stiff fight until Felix Kraam, with his debut try for Otley, secured a 5-0 win.

Otley were barely tested in their last match, against the hosts Morley, winning 20-0 but had to settle for the runners-up spot. after a brave effort.