An excellent game of rugby played in front of an excellent crowd saw Wharfedale level the score after Otley had won the early season encounter at Cross Green.
Otley opened strongly and dominated possession and territory for the first 3 minutes and were rewarded with a try scored by Finn Warren-Lambert. The try was well constructed by forwards and backs showing control and patience to get to the five- metre line and then using the heavies to crash through the last couple of metres. Edward Crossland added the two points. Otley then took a back seat, and it was Wharfedale who played some outstanding rugby to lead 21-7 at half time.
Otley were finding it hard to cope with the speed of Wharfedale and several penalties were awarded to Dale. Eventually leading to an attacking lineout which was efficiently won, and a good drive nearly saw Sam Dickinson going over the whitewash. The ball was quickly recycled and moved to Oliver Cicognini who barrelled over for Dale’s first try, Robbie Davidson started a brilliant afternoon by slotting the extras.
This was soon followed by Tom Beresford who finished off some excellent work by the backs and forwards, one of the tries of the season. Otley were awarded a penalty from the restart as Tom Beresford had offended after Cico had scored. The penalty kick to touch was good and Otley had a lineout in Dale’s 22. They seemed to have secured the ball but then lost it. Joe Fawcett scooped the ball up and charged out of Dale’s 22. Quick ball was given to Cicognini who broke out of defence up to halfway. Oli Riddiough was again getting the ball recycled quickly and Sam Dickinson carried the ball into Otleyland. Riddiough then fed Beresford who gave the ball to Dan Stockdale who burst through into Otley’s 22. Beresford was on his shoulder and gratefully took the offload to touch down under the posts for a converted try.
Otley had the ball for two phases after the restart before they were back in their own half. More indiscipline gave Dale an attacking lineout and the forwards pinned them back on their line. The Green Machine showed patience in working the ball through the phases until Elliot Stockton added the home side’s third converted try before half time.
Harry Bullough crossed at the start of the second half to secure a bonus point for Dale. Davidson was again accurate from the tee. Otley narrowed the gap with another try by Warren-Lambert and a conversion by Crossland.
Oli Riddiough broke through the defence for Dale’s fifth try. Davidson notched up the extras. Dale’s last score was a penalty try as the Dale pack rounded off their work by overpowering the Otley 8.
Otley seemed to bounce back into the game and two more tries gave them a deserved bonus point. Sam Taylor and Joe Rowntree touched down with Crossland adding both conversions.
This was a tremendous afternoon of rugby. Wharfedale played some of the best rugby that they have played for a while. All the Wharfedale squad put on some superb entertainment and a lot of the faithful were impressed by the high standard of the play. Mistakes were few and decisions were generally well executed and correct.
Dale have some more hard matches over the next few weeks. Next week takes the club to East Yorkshire and the joys of playing at Hull Rugby Club. This is followed by an away trip to Tynedale and then Leeds at the Avenue.
Wharfedale Bullough; Hamilton, Prell, Cicognini, Bullock; Davidson, Riddiough (Kaup-Samuels 72); Dickinson (Ward 56), Stockdale (Collinson 68), Armstrong (Dickinson 74), Stockton, Hedgley, Pinder, Fawcett (Heys 56), Beresford (Weston 68)
The match photographs are available at https://www.flickr.com/photos/128183691@N04/albums/72177720323267696