OTLEY’S head coach Kyle Dench praised his teenagers after they lost their derby 31-7 at Wharfedale in National League Two North.

He singled out hooker Leon Mudd for praise, saying: “He is an outstanding rugby player for 18 years of age and he played loose head effectively and hooker effectively, and we also have an 18-year-old at centre in Charlie Metcalfe, and the energy that they give us are really important.

“Also, Ben Dinsdale, who we signed from Driffield, has been outstanding for us, and we just have to keep learning and getting better.”

Otley had Dinsdale (obstruction) and No 8 Sam Waddington (pulling down a maul) sin-binned in the first half at The Avenue but conceded no points when they were short-handed.

Dench said: “I am really proud of the boys when we went down to 13. The first yellow was just one of those things, the second yellow we could have helped, but overall we defended well in that spell.

“However, all credit to Wharfedale who have experience and managed the game a lot better than us.”

Dench added: “We have a completely new dynamic within the squad due to senior players who have retired or gone to other clubs, and I am proud that the boys are getting up and getting up and going again.”

The most controversial incident came in the second half when Otley replacement Gavin Stead baulked Wharfedale replacement Oliver Riddiough after he had chipped over the top.

That led to a few terse exchanges between the benches, and some of the crowd were baying for a red card, but Dench said: “When someone chips the ball over the top it is really difficult (for the defender) to move, and the melee after it wasn’t really called for from either side.

“We got punished for it (Stead got a yellow card), which was a bit of a theme throughout the afternoon, but you make your own luck, and when results aren’t going your way, the decisions tend to go against you a bit more.”

Otley have dropped to second from bottom due to Tynedale’s win over basement boys Huddersfield, but Dench admitted: “It is early in the season, and we have a group of boys that are willing and have a lot of determination to pull together so all we can do is keep improving, keep getting better and work on the processes.”