OTLEY are having a fine season in National League Two North but their director of rugby Peter Clegg criticised his charges after their 13-12 home defeat against Tynedale last Saturday.

The hosts dominated the first half, yet were trailing 3-0 at half-time, and in general gave too many penalties away, forced too many passes and failed to turn territory and possession into points.

Otley still had a chance to win it but, in what was near darkness, scrum and skipper Stephen Depledge missed a 76th-minute conversion that would have given the home side a 14-13 victory.

"They were only in our half for 45 seconds in the first half – and they only played for the last ten minutes," said a baffled Clegg of Tynedale.

"They defended well in general but we played the wrong sort of rugby for the conditions. We tried to be too expansive.

"Yes, it had been a dry autumn and we prefer to play that way, but there is more to it than that and you have to adapt.

"It was tough on Stephen Depledge to try and kick that late conversion, given the conditions and the fact that it was almost dark. Nobody is blaming him."

The defeat dropped Otley one place to fourth ahead of their trip to Stourbridge, who have replaced the Cross Greeners in third.