Ampthill 41 Otley 10

OTLEY have had a sad time on the road so far this season and with so little between these teams in performance, perhaps bar tackling, it is difficult to explain the heavily weighted disparity in the score-line.

The opening was like a kick in the teeth but they appeared to settle and with their armoury it looked to be a matter of time before the league's top try scorer Harry Hudson found a way through but Ampthill produced a solid defence whilst Otley missed vital tackles.

Otley's kick-off was kicked back into touch and from smartly taken line-out, the visitors launched a well co-ordinated attack.

Unfortunately, a loose pass near half-way was fly-hacked downfield by winger Gareth Clarke who, with Otley fly-half James White racing back with him, followed up to get a fortuitous bounce and score under the posts. Fly-half Joe Tarrant made no mistake with the conversion.

Otley got themselves into the game but were unable to press home any advantage. Stephen Depledge saw a 38-metre penalty float wide, before another attacking position was squandered when they lost their own line-out five metres from the Ampthill line.

A penalty took Ampthill back to Otley’s five-metre line where a catch and drive saw flanker Joe Bercisgo over and the half-time whistle followed a break by Tarrant which brought a third try. He ran some 30 metres, shaking off tackles to score and establish a 22-0 half-time lead.

Otley finally put their game together after 63 minutes. A series of attacks from close-in saw flanker Matt Heaton scoring a try in the corner but the home side came back with two tries in quick succession.

Tarrant's second of the game was followed by one for winger Darren Dyer, each converted by Tarrant.

Alex Beaumont grabbed a second try for Otley before Tarrant completed his hat-trick and his 21-point haul.