REPORT BY: NICK DOYLE

SEDGLEY Park finished off their season with another bonus point win, although they didn’t have it all of their own way.

The Tigers came out looking for an early score, Andrew Riley knocking on an early chip over the Otley defence just outside the home side’s 22, getting a penalty at the subsequent scrum. However, he had no problems catching another one after Park moved the ball left, running in the remaining 10 metres. Stephen Collins added the conversion after five minutes.

Otley’s restart began with a break by Charlie Morgan and Rory Gaffney, Otley reaching their 22 before knocking on. After a spell in their own half, a clearance kick was knocked by Sedgley putting the Yorkshiremen back in the opposition half. A penalty took them to their 22, and as Otley moved the ball left before a high tackle on Callum Irvine gave him the opportunity to open the scoring for Otley.

The tables were turned and Sedgley were back in Otley’s half, and with Irvine in the sin bin after an illegal tackle on centre Joe Bedlow, the Lancastrians made it to Otley’s 22 although another chip kick was overcooked. Play remained in Otley’s 22 for the next five minutes, until a Crossland kick resulted in a Sedgley line-out on the their right. The ball came into the centre of the pitch, and just on the half hour Bedlow burst through the Otley defence to score from 25 metres out.

A deliberate knock on by Otley on the half way line gave possession back to Sedgley. From the line-out the ball again came into the centre, John Blanchard’s battering run into Otley’s line ended when the ball was released to Collins who took an arching run around the Otley players to score from just beyond their 22, and then add his third conversion.

With Irvine now back on, Otley had the territorial advantage and a high tackle on Jack Gilmartin saw the ball go within 10 metres of Sedgley’s line with a minute left on the clock. As Otley’s maul inched forward, Park committed multiple offences earning them a talking to. When Otley tried the same tactic from five metres out the Tigers were more disciplined and stopped the advance to bring the half to an end.

Collins’ kick started off the second half, and shortly afterwards No 8 Greg Morgan made a great run from Otley’s 10 metre line but a tap tackle by Irvine saw him lose the ball two metres from the line. Later a loose line-out by Otley kept them in their half until a knock-on by Sedgley gave the home side possession giving them the opportunity to move the forward. A penalty around their 10 metre line followed, the subsequent maul from the line took them closer but conceded a penalty at a scrum.

Alex Johnson’s height took the line-out from Sedgley setting up another Otley attack, and a break by Irvine ended with a high tackle by Jamie Harrison earning him a yellow card. The subsequent penalty went into the right-hand corner. Sedgley stopped Otley’s maul close to their line, but were then rapidly pushed back at their scrum. Electing to go for a scrum, Sedgely infringed again and after another scrum, Otley move the ball out. Crossland was halted in front of the posts but he was able to get the ball away, Duncan Darling jinxing his way through to score to the left of the posts which Rowntree converted.

After a line-out just inside Otley’s 10 metre line, Sedgley Park came straight back and with good work by their backs, the ball found its way to the left hand flank, Rhys Henderson going over in the opposite corner for the bonus point try. Collins long range conversion was successful.

Towards the end of the game Otley had another spell in Sedgley’s 22, putting pressure on the visitors which, despite conceding a couple of penalties Park were able to withstand. Then a late break by Ben Waddington nearly set up Elliot Morgan but the ball was lost in the pass.

Although past the original end of the season, Otley still have games to play on the next two Saturdays both kicking off at 3.00 pm. The first is against Tynedale and the last is against Blaydon. Otley will be looking be looking for points to stay fourth in the league above Rotherham Titans.