Otley are ready to bridge that gap

4:28pm Thursday 4th December 2008

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Otley have been dealt a tough hand by the Rugby Football Union.

The launch of the Championship next season – a full-time division to sit underneath the Guinness Premiership – means that the bottom five clubs in this season’s National League One will be relegated.

Otley seemed certain to be part of that quintet a couple of weeks ago when they were bottom of the table alongside Manchester with only five points.

Above them were Newbury (14 points), Sedgley Park (15) and Esher (16), with Rotherham in the coveted sixth-from-bottom spot on 23 points.

Now, however, after successive wins over Manchester and Sedgley Park, there is a real optimism that Otley can mount the great escape.

Manchester, who still have only six points, are in real danger of being cast adrift.

Otley, however, with 13 points, are right in the mix with the three others (Newbury 14, Sedgley Park 16, Esher 16) but still have to bridge the gap to Moseley and Rotherham, who are on 28 points, to be safe.

Nevertheless, as Otley’s pack leader Howard Parr points out, there is real optimism that they can span that chasm.

He said: “With these two victories under our belts, there is a genuine feeling that we can get out of the bottom five if we can string a run of positive results together.

"We know we have some difficult games coming up but we also feel that we have some winnable games, starting with Saturday's derby at Rotherham.”

The crowd were getting on Otley’s back a little last Saturday against Sedgley Park when they either lost possession after several phases or were penalised.

But Parr explained: “In several matches this season we have either been just in front or just behind at half-time and then had an awful ten or 15 minutes.

“This time, as I was pack leader, I told us to keep it tight for that time period and play in their 22.

“We were 9-7 ahead, Sedgley Park were trying to chase the game and we got a try out of nothing through Steve Trethewey.

“However, our defence was also superb, particularly by the young lads, and I have never seen open-side flanker Jacob Rowan have a better game for us. He tackled his heart out – he came of age.”

Otley expect to have back-rower Dan Hyde available this weekend, but prop Kris Fullman (calf) may have to wait for his reappearance.