Coach Rock-ed by Otley loss (From Wharfedale Observer)

Coach Rock-ed by Otley loss

9:59am Thursday 18th October 2012 in Sport By Alan Birkinshaw, Weeklies Sports Editor

Otley’s player coach Tom Rock is looking for his side to pick themselves up after last Saturday’s disappointing 32-30 loss at Hull.

It was the manner of the defeat that upset him after they had run in four tries in the first half. “We switched off and lost our focus and as they came into the game we made more and more unforced errors.

“We didn’t execute our plans properly and we got ourselves penalised around the tackle area and that really hurt us. “Hull kicked six penalties and that proved decisive,” he said.

Rock, who was forced to play stand off after Ben Cooper pulled out in the warm up with a rib injury sustained while training with Scotland under-20s last week, has a number of players doubtful for Saturday’s visit to National League Two North leaders Stourbridge.

Cooper is expected to be missing again along with second row Simon Willett and number eight Daniel Temm who were also absentees for the Hull match.

There is also a doubt about the availability of back rower Rob Ofoa Peterson whose wife is expecting a baby any day.

Rock said: “We have players who are looking for the chance to come in and show what they can do and Stourbridge is a good place to see what they can do.

“It is also a chance for us to measure the progress we have made as a side. We mustn’t lose sight of the bigger picture.

“It is a sign of how things have changed that we are now disappointed to lose an away game rather than be happy that we only lost narrowly.”

l Match report Page 53