OTLEY returned to winning ways having claimed their first victory in three games at home to Lymm on Saturday.

In an action-packed encounter, the hosts had to work hard for the points but they did eventually run out 45-34 winners.

Kicking off towards the Chevin, Otley got off to a dream start when Ben Waddington, playing his 50th game for the club, went over close to the posts some 90 seconds into the game which Gavin Stead converted. In their first attack of the game, Lymm were awarded a penalty after Otley strayed offside on their 22, Tom Shard putting the ball between the posts.

Having regained possession Otley moved forward and although they met stiff resistance, they were able to make it into the opposition 22, Eddie Crossland’s 20 metre kick into the corner was caught by Sam Taylor in the air and as he landed he touched the ball down.

A 50:22 by Otley didn’t make it but the scuffed clearance kick by Lymm had the same effect. From a line out on the right-hand side Otley had to move the ball five times across the width of the pitch to find an entry point, Clark Wells finding it on the left-hand side. Stead added his second conversion 12 minutes into the game.

After a spell in their half which was punctuated with minor infringements, Otley got the break they needed when Lymm were penalised again – this time for a forward pass. From the scrum on Otley’s 10 metre line, three passes saw the ball in Wells’ hand who then ran into Lymm 22 before passing to Crossland who scored under the posts. Stead’s conversion took the score to 26-3.

Lymm came back with a try three minutes later, Otley having again strayed offside. From a line-out some 12 metres out, Lymm’s pack did the hard yards and although their maul was stopped five metres from the line, scrum-half Cal Morris found a way through. Otley gave a penalty on their 5 line, Lymm opted of a scrum and in the next attack Waddington went to the bin for persistence offences, Crossland following shortly after for a deliberate knock-on. Morris took the opportunity for a quick tap and go to score, Shard adding his second conversion.

Just before half time, from a line-out In Lymm’s 22 Otley launched another attack with Ben Dinsdale running onto Crossland’s kick to get his first try. The conversion was missed leaving the score at 31-17.

Lymm came out with renewed vigour and were rewarded after five minutes of playing against a stalwart defence. Having kept Otley penned in their half for that time, a long pass to Ste Pilkington gave him ample space to score in the corner. Despite Otley being up to full strength again, Lymm reduced the deficit four minutes later, full-back Jack Reynolds putting Ben Thompson through. They took the lead when Morris’s two kicks got the ball beyond Otley’s line and Harry Martin was the first to get his hand on the ball, Shard converting.

Play continued in the Otley half, until Dinsdale caught the ball in his half flying past four defenders to take play into Lymm’s 22, where he passed the ball to Stead for a try under the posts which Stead converted. Five minutes later Wells gathered a clearance kick in his own half and then kicked it forward, racing on it and two further taps in the visitor’s 22 saw him get his second of the day, Stead getting his fifth conversion.

Now with an 11-point cushion Otley played out the remaining 13 minutes and although they had two penalty attempts at goal, they were unable to extend their 45-34 lead. Nevertheless, they will take a great deal from their first home win of the season, seven tries from eight visits to the opposition 22 and a solid set piece.

Otley have a two week break before going south to play Rotherham Titans, before returning home on 11 November to play Tynedale – kick off 2:15.