Otley 10 Harrogate 20

OTLEY made a bright start and led 10-0 after 11 minutes but after that hosts Harrogate played the conditions better, with strong running and astute kicking giving them the edge.

Not only did the visitors have their half-back combination back in tandem but they had two props on loan, one of whom was former Cross Green favourite Toby Williams.

A penalty following Otley's kick-off gave them a line-out on the visitors’ 22, where a clean catch put them on attack, and when the ball was returned inwards, centre Michael Coady burst through to score in the corner, scrum half Stephen Depledge landing a fine conversion.

Their continuous attacking kept Harrogate penned in their own half but the visiting defence was up to it and the only reward was a Depledge penalty on 11 minutes.

It was not until a 20th-minute penalty took them to the Otley 22 that Harrogate threatened and, after a series of drives had failed, fly half Callum Irvine latched onto a loose ball on the 22 to run unopposed to the line for full back Joe Rowntree to convert.

Settling down, they began to play to the conditions and, just before the break, Rowntree levelled with a penalty.

There was little to choose over the third quarter but on 61 minutes Rowntree eased his side ahead with a penalty and then, with ten minutes remaining, a good follow up to a chip through had Otley in trouble, skipper Jacob Brady grounding for Rowntree to convert.