Otley 21 Cinderford 25: Grandstand finish not enough

Otley needed a win against fellow strugglers Cinderford and they almost succeeded but their more experienced opponents, especially at half-back, were able to make more of their fewer opportunities.
By The Newsroom
Published 15th Feb 2010, 10:14 BST
Updated 15th Feb 2010, 10:14 BST

Possession and territory went Otley's way in the first-half but they missed an early score when fly-half Chris Georgiou threaded a neat kick through to 10m out and Otley stole the visitors' throw and set up a drive only to concede a penalty. This was compounded with a further penalty which set them back in their 22 where they were caught offside for fly-half Matty James to kick three points.

When Otley full-back Oliver Denton was tackled when running back a kick, the ball went loose and was fly-kicked ahead for scrum-half Paul Knight to win the chase, James adding the conversion.

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Three times, the Otley wingers were tackled into touch just short and all the hosts could manage before the break was a brace of penalties from centre Ben Hough.

Finally, after winger James Twomey just failed to gather his chip ahead with the line at his mercy, Howard Parr ran a penalty and good handling saw centre James White go over.

James equalised with a penalty and Cinderford went ahead with a converted try from winger Robert Winchle. Hough replied with a penalty but centre Paul Boston went in at the posts, James's conversion securing an 11 points lead.

Otley produced a grandstand finish, winger Mark Kirkby setting up a score for Hough, who added the conversion only for time to run out.