Young Otley are swept aside as weak Ionians are overpowered

Caldy 59 Otley 25A YOUNG Otley side crashed to their third defeat of the season, as Gary Walker was forced to ring the changes again with two more fledgling players drafted in.

They suffered an early set-back when Simon Willett badly dislocated his thumb, the bone protruding, in the warm up and with no doctor or ambulance available, the lock had to wait for a volunteer to take him to hospital so it was no surprise that the hastily re-arranged side were caught cold, left winger Liam Delaney getting over after just four minutes.

Caldy were playing with the confidence their league position demonstrates and Otley were struggling to contain them, going further behind when No 6 Harry Broadbent went in.

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But a lovely crossfield move ended with Daniel Temm racing in from 50 metres, fly-half Nick Coupland converting then levelling the score with a penalty.

More tries followed for Caldy, a second for Broadbent and two for centre Gavin Roberts, fly-half Richard Vasey’s conversions, seven in all, helping towards a 31-19 half-time lead.

A demand from coach Walker at the interval for a fight for a bonus point brought the required result despite conceding a try from the restart from winger Gavin Souter.

Otley hit back with two tries from centre Andrew Roberts and winger James Wood.

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Twomey achieved the four-try bonus point target with an incisive run from 40 metres but the damage had already been done.

Caldy ran in three more tries but the secondary target was achieved.

Kendal 37 Hull Ionians 21

Tries from two power drives by the Kendal pack and three scores from crisp play by the backs gave the home side the clinical edge.

Ionians and Kendal both maintained possession for sustained periods of play, contained by tenacious defending by both teams.

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Glenn Boyd kicked Ionians into an early lead after they stole the kick-off but Kendal pressure soon brought one in reply from Mark Ireland.

A period of midfield stalemate ended with a Kendal penalty kicked to the 22 where their forwards trundled prop Andries Venter over, Ireland converting.

Ionians’ pressure was thwarted by a series of penalties in the corner before a midfield one saw Boyd land the goal.

Ionians again attacked but were penalised for off-the-feet and quick Kendal support play saw centre Leo Mercer cross, Ireland converting as the hosts scored two tries from two attacks.

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Ireland opened the second half with seven more points, a well- taken solo try after twice collecting his own chip ahead, but Ionians again struck back immediately as Boyd kick a penalty.

Another attacking lineout saw Kendal trundle over again, Garry Holmes claiming the try bonus point.

Ionians pressure was finally rewarded with a yellow card for a Kendal forward and a penalty try as their pack drove the five-metre scrum to the line.

Kendal again finished clinically, gaining a penalty by Ireland and try by right wing Ian Vortman.

Ionians may have lost but they scored the last try when Sam Wilson was released to race 40 metres to the corner. They are bottom of the table.

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