Pre-season friendly: Billingham 26 Otley 21

OTLEY did not mind playing second fiddle to former England international Jason Leonard, who officially opened Billingham's artificial grass pitch last Saturday.

And after Durham and Yorkshire's women had first use of the new surface, Otley took to the field for their second pre-season friendly after the 67-31 demolition of Warrington.

And despite not getting the win in County Durham, Otley captain Freddie Watson was happy with the team's performance as the new players continue to integrate into the team.

On a warm but blustery day, Otley's skipper took the kick-off cleanly and led the team into Billingham's half.

The visitors spent a lot of the first quarter there, but it was the host's determined defence that kept them at bay.

North Premier League Billingham, who play a division below Otley, scored first, working the ball upfield aided by two Otley penalties, and Peter Evans went over for Daniel Finney to land the first of his three conversions.

Otley restored parity on 38 minutes, however, when Jack Mackie got the ball just inside his own half and proceeded to take route one, handing off would-be tacklers to give Joe Rowntree an easy conversion.

In the second half, Otley took the lead when Tom Hodson intercepted and went for the line, Rowntree's aim again being true from the kicking tee.

However, a front-row error gave the initiative back to Billingham and their attack went around Otley's defence to score in the left-hand corner.

Shortly afterwards, Nick Coupland was held up over the line, but Otley's persistence eventually paid off.

The green shirts tried to run the ball out of their 22, and when the ball went to ground it was Watson who got his hands on the ball and made sure that it was planted on the right side of the line.

Another Otley error, this time wind assisted when a clearance from the visitors' 22 didn't find touch,led to Matt Kirby going over for his second try to make the score 21-21.

An unconverted try by Danny Dixon gave the lead back to Billingham, but although Otley continued to press for their fourth try and had opportunities, the hosts, coached by former Otley player Chris Hyndman, were not about to have their party spoilt.