Otley 46 Sedgley Park 57

SPECTATORS at Cross Green were treated to a high-scoring thriller which saw Otley edged out by their National Two North promotion-chasing rivals.

The tone for the contest was set in the opening minutes. Joe Rowntree kicked off the scoring with a penalty and winger Paul Petchey extended the Otley lead with an intercept try from inside his own half. Rowntree’s conversion made it 10-0.

The Tigers were roused into action and capitalised after kicking a penalty to the corner. Good line-out ball resulted in a try for Ben Black.

Otley’s response to the score was to go on the attack. Their enterprise was rewarded when Max Johnson saw a gap on the blindside and made ground before linking with Oli Goss who sent Simon Willett in for a try.

The momentum swung again as Sedgley Park scored twice through Jamie Harrison with a diagonal run and a back-row explosion from their 22 which led to a try for Oli Glasse. Both were converted by Steve Collins.

Otley were in no mood to cave in and retook the lead after good pressure across the width of the pitch. Alex Beaumont went before Rowntree kicked his second penalty.

Before Otley could consolidate, the Tigers pounced. Sustained pressure led to the home side conceding a penalty try as the lead changed hands.

Bob Holloway set up Callum McShane for the final try of a thrilling first half which Collins again converted.

The Tigers extended their lead through Bob Birtwell four minutes into the second half, but back again came Otley.

Joe Graham picked up a loose ball on the halfway line and romped away for a try.

Tigers responded with a Collins penalty before Otley struck a double blow.

Johnson harried the Tigers into conceding a penalty which was put into the corner.

A Grayson Maguire try followed through a rolling maul, and when Goss set up Mike Coady, Otley were ahead.

There was still time for a further twist. Harrison scored from his own 22 and Matt Riley went over for a try as the visitors wrapped up victory.

Otley’s one bonus point seemed scant reward after scoring six tries and contributing fully to an absorbing contest