No place like home for Otley after away defeats

BACK in home surroundings after two consecutive away defeats, Otley put on a great show.

Skipper Freddie Watson and his back-row companions led the way with telling runs to give their backs attacking space, which they used in style, picking up the bonus point on just 28 minutes.

Tynedale were no mean performers but the home defence was solid and many of the visitors were made to suffer heavy tackling.

It took no time at all for Otley to get cracking. Their kick-off was booted back to them and the forwards combined to drive up field. The backs joined in and winger Paul Petchey raced in at the corner, full back Tom Hodson putting a fine kick through the posts.

They were straight back from the restart, only to concede a penalty on the visitors’ line. But, with their superiority in the set piece, a good heel saw the ball move quickly, and Hodson came up outside Petchey to take his pass and score before adding the conversion.

In complete control, Otley went further ahead when, after a chip to the line had proved too strong, a deep 22 drop out was run back and a well-weighted long pass from centre Jack Mackie was taken at speed by winger James Wood, who made the line.

Six minutes later centre Henry Roberts skilfully carved up the Tynedale defence to extend the lead as Otley went in 24-0 at the break.

The visitors came out purposely but, possibly against the run of play, Otley went further ahead when Hodson scored a carbon copy of his first try, this time on the opposite wing.

At last the persistent work of the opposition paid off, centre William Miller scoring. While Otley were a man short, prop Kivalu Tipiloma being sent to the sin bin, winger Henry Hadfield crossed wide out, fly half Ashley Smith adding the conversions.

However, any hopes held by Tynedale were dispelled when Hodson kicked a 70-minute penalty. Although they came back with a try from centre Jack Harrison, which Smith converted, the game ended with Wood coming inside at a line-out. Hodson converted amid a great celebration with the last kick of the match.