REPORT BY: NICK DOYLE

AFTER last week’s impressive victory over Preston Grasshoppers, Otley were on the losing side at Tynedale on Saturday as the hosts ran out 26-22 winners.

Having kicked off against the home side on a cold and dank day, the visitors soon had possession back again and pummelled the hosts’ line. However, they were up against a solid defence and eventually conceded a penalty on the edge of the 22.

Tynedale made it to Otley’s 22 where the visitors conceded a penalty at the scrum, the ball going into the corner. It was then a matter of Tynedale’s pack driving hooker Ralph Johnston over the line after six minutes.

It was then Tynedale’s turn to concede penalties, and with Otley back in the red zone they played some smart rugby, but their efforts were stonewalled.

Tynedale were caught offside and, after a line-out and scrum, the visitors passed the ball to the other side of the pitch in an attempt to score but were penalised for holding on five metres from the line.

From just outside Tynedale’s 22, Otley launched another assault, patiently working the lines looking for an opening. After 13 phases, Eddie Crossland’s long pass stretched the Tynedale defence, giving space for Sam Taylor to come in from the wing to score close to the posts and level the scores.

Tynedale came back with a score of their own four minutes later that started on Otley’s 10 metre line when Euan Furlow broke through the tacklers and once at the 22 kicked the ball on, chasing it down to score. Ryan Scott then kicked the conversion.

From a line-out on the right-hand side, Otley took the ball to the left where they got another line-out after a touch-line tussle. From there, the away side advanced forward before a missed tackle gave Gavin Stead the chance to run a further 10 metres when he passed the ball to Rory Gaffney who went onto score just before the half hour. Stead levelled things from the tee.

Otley conceded a penalty in their 22, Tynedale kicking the ball into the left-hand corner. As the visitors were able to stop the subsequent drives, from in front of the posts Josh Leslie kicked the ball to a waiting Joe Beaty on the wing who touched the ball down, Scott again converting with less than three minutes left.

Stead quickly led an attack down the left before passing to Michael Graham who reached the five-metre line. The ball was then played into the centre of the 22, Tynedale failing to retreat quickly enough with Rowntree’s penalty bringing the half to an end with the score at 19-15.

Tynedale came out the stronger and put Otley under pressure. They were rewarded nine minutes in when scrum-half James Telford nearly made it to the line, and the subsequent pick and goes saw No 8 Owen Vassallo barge his way over, Scott adding the extras.

The next half hour was largely played between the two 22s, with both sides giving it all. Otley’s best chance came after a penalty was kicked into the corner, but as their pack trundled forward they lost possession of the ball. Towards the end of this period, Tynedale had the opportunity to extend their lead with a penalty kick in front of the posts, but it went awry.

Still searching for points that would get them within seven, from a line-out close to Tynedale’s five metre line, Otley moved the ball across the pitch with Ben Waddington scoring close to the corner flag. Stead’s conversion heralded the final five minutes of the game.

Otley were kept in the own half until the game was nearly over, Tynedale regaining possession on the half way line and they held onto it until they kicked it into touch.

Otley host fifth placed Fylde this Saturday, with kick-off at 3.00pm.