Leicester Lions 33 Otley 12

With the teams sitting side by side in the league and all past results going to the home club this was always going to be a hard game and prospects not enhanced with three more joining the injured list, fly half Neil Chivers, lock Jon Stannard and No 6 Tom O’Donnell, whose place was taken by winger James Wood, who has enjoyed success in the back row, Kristian Sharples coming in to the right wing.

Otley never really got into a game ruled by the conditions, reaching half-time 19 points in arrears but they did rally after the break, taking advantage of Lions having a couple of players in the sin bin, getting to within seven points only to see the dangling bonus point snatched away with a late blitz from the opposition.

It was a fairly even contest until the 13th minute when Lions stole an Otley line out and secure handling saw them progress up field for winger Devon Constant to go in at the corner and the home forwards, steadily taking charge, produced a fine drive from halfway which ultimately finished with a try for No 8 Joe Collingham, fly half Jonathan Williams converting.

A chance for Otley went begging due to a dropped pass but worse followed when Luke Veebel intercepted when they were attacking inside the home 22 and the winger legged it all the way to the line for Williams to convert. They were though able to capitalise when Veebel was yellow-carded to be immediately followed by sub Charles Beckett, and making numbers count, lock Declan Dunn charged over from a 5m line out, skipper Stephen Depledge converting then coming straight back winger Kristian Sharples had the speed to finish off good approach work by left winger Sam Melville.

They could not, however, maintain the pressure when Lions returned to full strength, Collingham picking up a second try and No 6 Oliver Pavors securing a bonus point with a try in the final minute, Williams converting both.

ends