REPORT BY: NICK DOYLE

TWO second-half tries by replacement centre Gavin Stead helped Otley secure their second win at Crow Trees in 14 years.

Otley kicked off but were soon back in their half and then lost the ball when the ball squirted out of the ruck, Blaydon then conceding a penalty for holding on. After a period in Blaydon’s half, a Blaydon penalty was nullified by Charles Morgan’s run back into their half although the moved ended when Ben Waddington was taken into touch ten metres from the line.

Otley’s pressure was rewarded after nine minutes when Blaydon held onto the ball for too long 45 metres out, Joe Rowntree’s kick giving Otley the lead.

The visitors conceded a penalty on Blaydon’s ten metre line and from their line out Blaydon moved the ball quickly, their fly half Zach Thompson broke through the Otley defence to give Alex Charlton an easy run in. Thompson added the conversion.

Otley began to get a foothold in the game playing in Blaydon’s half. Despite losing two line-outs in Blaydon’s 22, Otley were soon back there and looking for that elusive gap. It came when Rowntree’s pass to Sam Hodge saw the flanker pirouette through the tackle and then go over the line on 24 minutes.

Rowntree added the conversion. With some ten minutes to go, another Rowntree long range penalty sailed right of the posts. An intercept pass by centre Dan Marshall in his 22 saw him run the ball beyond Otley’s 10 metre line, only for Sam Taylor get the ball as Marshall tried to pass to his team mate, Taylor then taking play back to Blaydon’s 10 metre line. The half ended with Blaydon having a scrum in their 22, the ball being kicked into touch, with the score at 10-7 to Otley.

Otley started the second half on the front foot, their forwards pushing Blaydon back in the scrum. The Yorkshiremen were awarded a penalty 30 metres out after Blaydon were caught offside. Callum Irvine, who had kept the back line tight in defence, stepped up to extend Otley’s lead after 46 minutes.

A searing run by Elliot Morgan from his 22, followed by a grubber kick, heaped pressure on Blaydon who conceded a penalty on their 22 for not releasing. Irvine slotted over the conversion. A few minutes later he followed this with a 50:22, but Blaydon snatched the line-out ball. Two quick tap and goes saw Blaydon race for Otley’s line after the visitors infringed twice, but Otley’s defence was able to regroup and force a penalty from the home side.

Just before the hour mark Blaydon knocked on just inside their half, Otley moved the ball quickly right with Charles and Elliot Morgan passing between them, the move ending with Gavin Stead going over.

Blaydon tried to reduce the deficit but found Otley’s defence too strong. With five minutes to go, Otley regained possession having pushed the Northumbrians off the ball. From their ten metre line Gavin Stead sprinted to the line to take the game beyond Blaydon, Irvine adding the extras.

Jack Appleton got a consolation try at the death after a period of sustained pressure on Otley’s line, Appleton diving over in the left hand corner to finish the scores at 28-12 to Otley.

Otley have another two break before returning to Cross Green on 26 November to play promotion hopefuls Rotherham, who sit just one place below Otley in the league.