OTLEY’S director of rugby Peter Clegg has laid out his survival target for the season.

Although the Cross Greeners are currently four places and 11 points above a relegation place in National League Two North, Clegg feels that the rugby gods are not in his team’s favour at the moment.

On the back of a 26-12 defeat at Chester that should have brought them some league points, and even a victory, he said: “We need another 20 to 25 points to be safe.

“We should have won at Chester last week and scored a perfectly good try and had it taken away from us by a touch judge.

“We also got Nick Coupland back from the broken jaw that he suffered against Sheffield Tigers and he lasted 30 seconds from am innocuous tackle that damaged an ankle.

“At least we were able to bring Mike Coady on but then we lost Tom Hodson with a shoulder injury, but that is rugby for you.”

Otley won their first seven home matches this season before going down 45-19 at home to Sedgley Park in the first weekend of the new year, and face another stiff test tomorrow at home to leaders Caldy.

“We are at home and will be looking to put in a performance but we will need to do against a side who have pace and power and a good scrum and line-out.”

With Alistair Allen not available, Wharfedale have brought Adam Howard into the second row at South Leicester.

Although Howard has played in recent matches for Wharfedale Foresters and has made an impact off the bench for the senior team, it is Howard’s first start for the Greens since he dislocated an ankle and fractured a tibia during the warm-up in their 39-13 defeat at Henley in October, 2015.

Meanwhile, there is further good news in that Jordan Poole takes the spare seat on the bench, having been sidelined with injury since September.

Wharfedale will be using their new red and white away kit due to a colour clash.

Snow caused last Saturday’s match against Tynedale to be postponed after two inches fell on Thursday morning.

Wharfedale’s programme editor Gordon Brown said: “Not only was the pitch covered but also the car park and The Avenue.”

Wharfedale (at South Leicester): H Bullough; R Davidson, T Davidson, J Guy, J Prell; T Barrett, P Woodhead; J Altham, D Stockdale, T Asejevs, A Howard, R Rhodes, G Hedgley, J Burridge, T Whyte. Replacements: J Poole, J Huck, I Larkin, S Jordan, J Bullough.