REPORT BY: NICK DOYLE

OTLEY last visited Harrogate over five years ago, and this time found their hosts in much less of an accommodating mood on the field.

Nevertheless, Otley persevered and ground out a win against a side who were certainly up for the game and "produced their best performance of the season to date."

On a damp, overcast afternoon Harrogate started well and had the majority of the territory. Their first scoring opportunity came on 6 minutes when, having been held on Otley’s ten metre line for a number of phases, the visitors conceded a penalty for side entry. Dan Troup’s kick went left of the posts.

At the restart a quick tap and go followed by a 50:22 by Callum Irvine got Otley within striking distance. A rolling maul got Otley close to the five metre line before the ball went out along the line, but a high pass was knocked-on and the opportunity was missed. Otley kept up the pressure and kept Harrogate penned in their half, but the wet ball did not aid their cause. They finally got their reward when Marcus Mercer was caught offside on his ten metre line, Irvine’s kick splicing the posts on 24 minutes.

A deliberate knock on by Otley prevented the home side playing the restart kick, and gave the hosts a penalty which went into the left hand corner. Otley managed to hold Harrogate’s line-out maul, until the hosts dropped the ball. After three resets, Harrogate came in early and Otley were able to clear their lines.

As the derby game progressed it was becoming a little niggly. Things settled down a bit after Brett Mitchell stole a line-out, Scott Irvine making the initial run. After eight phases involving most of the Otley side, Charles Morgan came close to scoring in the corner but was stopped short, Rory Gaffney then tried before Adam Malthouse scored headfirst over the line from the base of the ruck with five minutes to go.

Two penalties got Harrogate to Otley’s red zone. From the line-out Chris Jackson went over for his debut try. The conversion miss bought the half to an end.

Having caught the restart, Otley gave away a penalty just outside their 22. Harrogate’s well-drilled pack formed after the line-out and marched forward, Jacob Percival splintering off to score in the corner to give the hosts the lead. Otley replied almost immediately, from within his own half Callum Irvine ran the ball to Harrogate’s 22, before passing to Clark Wells who went onto score an unconverted try in the corner on 44 minutes.

A knock-on by Otley as they tried to clear the ball from their 22 gave possession back to Harrogate who launched a series of attacks getting as close to the five metre line before pushed back to the 22 where they knocked on. Both sides continued to run the ball, with Otley having the territorial advantage. Their endeavours were rewarded just after the hour when Harrogate failed to roll away some 35 metres from their posts, Callum Irvine stretching the lead 16-10.

The final quarter didn’t produce any further scores, Harrogate reaching Otley’s five metre line twice but good defence kept them at bay. Otley nearly managed to score from an attack which began in their half, but they lost possession metres from Harrogate’s line with 90 seconds to go. Otley had a chance of killing the game but the kick didn’t find touch, meaning Harrogate had one more chance. Harrogate again got to Otley’s 5 metre line but eventually knocked on as they tried to get the ball out of the ruck.

Otley have a two-week break before heading up to Blaydon on 12 November, a ground they also haven’t been to for over five years.