No respite for Otley with Titans due (From Wharfedale Observer)

No respite for Otley with Titans due

6:52pm Wednesday 22nd April 2009

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Exeter Chiefs 80 Otley 17

Almost 3,000 fans turned out to show support for the Chiefs, who have inexplicably thrown away a great chance to achieve their ambition to be part of the Premiership, and they were well rewarded as their heroes ran in 12 tries against a much depleted Otley.

The Cross Green side, despite having many new faces in their squad, never gave up trying, scoring three tries in a second-half purple patch.

With skipper Dan Hyde reporting an ankle injury and neither of their three fly-halves available, it was rather a make-shift Otley side that kicked-off and they were soon under the cosh.

Their long kick was returned to touch where they secured the ball, but the clearance was run back before Gareth Steenson put in a kick for the corner, which was touched down by No 6 Tom Johnson.

Steenson then set off on a run of seven consecutive conversions before veteran Tony Yapp came on to take his place to kick three out of five.

Returning immediately with good inter-play, Chiefs went further ahead when prop Ben Moon went over, and it was a Steenson break which set up a try for lock Chris Bentley. Beginning to find some shape, Otley made their first threatening move but their drive was bundled into touch.

The home side struck back with a second try for Bentley, quickly followed by full-back Emyr Lewis. Skipper No 8 Richard Baxter went in from a five-metre scrum and centre Bryan Rennie claimed a brace before half-time.

Exeter wasted no time with replacement lock James Hanks going over within a minute and Yapp made his presence felt with a touch-down seven minutes later.

Otley suddenly burst into life. Full-back Peter Wackett came into the line at speed to burst through, winger Steve Parsons landing the conversion.

On 70 minutes replacement centre Samuela Nute thrust his way over and another great run by Wackett, beating off three tacklers, saw him add his second.

Unfortunately, that was the end of Otley’s scoring and Exeter’s Rennie was to complete his hat-trick on 78 minutes, with centre Matt Jess finding time to get over before the final whistle.

l On Saturday Otley entertain Rotherham Titans, one of four sides fighting out the fifth relegation spot despite being one of the teams to beat Exeter recently, 35-28 at home. Thus there will be no respite at Cross Green.

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