Otley agony as Lound sticks boot in (From Wharfedale Observer)

Otley agony as Lound sticks boot in

8:00pm Sunday 14th October 2012 in Sport By Sports Desk

Hull 32 Otley 30

Four excellent tries secured a bonus point for Otley just 30 minutes into the game but unenforced errors and an inability to read the referee, plus a last-minute penalty miss, cost them the full points.

Their problems began at selection, lock Simon Willett, No 7 Dan Temm and fly half Ben Cooper all having to be replaced, but all looked well until the referee began to find fault with Otley’s rucking.

He constantly signalled handling, presenting fly half Greg Lound with an afternoon to remember as he stroked over six penalties from all angles.

He opened the scoring with a sixth-minute penalty but, claiming the re-start, Otley drove forward and centre Michael Coady powered through to the line, stand-in goal-kicker Stephen Depledge converting. Hull retook the lead when winger Alex Piercy went in at the corner for Lound to convert but it lasted just a couple of minutes, Coady catching a Hull kick in his own half and evading all attempts to stop him.

Winger James Wood outpaced the defence to score and, after another Lound penalty, James Twomey scampered over, Depledge converting for a 24-13 lead.

Hull fought back with a converted try from skipper Chris Murphy and the inevitable penalty.

Penalties either side of half-time gave Otley a boost but they twice passed to the opposition with the line at their mercy.

Lound made them pay, slotting over three kicks for a two-point lead.

Otley still had a chance to snatch it at the death with a penalty but the ball hit the wrong side of the upright.