OTLEY reached a sensational season landmark by hitting 1000 points in their 78-0 win over Northwich on Saturday.

After a quick game of ping-pong Otley took the game to Northwich, pushing them off their first scrum and from the restart Struan Connor came close to scoring. Ben Magee took the clearance kick and Otley then moved the ball right, Adam Malthouse touching down after five minutes.

Otley were on the scoreboard three minutes later, Magee’s run into just inside their 22 on the right was halted, but he was able to get the ball away to Henry Roberts who had an easy run to the line. Next it was Elliot Morgan who scored, picking up a loose ball after Connor was tackled near their line, Eddie Crossland securing his third conversion.

Two penalties got Northwich into Otley’s 22, but their short line-out wasn’t straight and so Otley weren’t further troubled. A deliberate knock-on by Northwich saw the ball kicked into their half, Otley advancing further with a 20 metre rolling maul down the right hand side.

The ball was then spun left across the pitch with Magee scoring in the opposite corner. Having secured the restart, Otley marched the ball forward getting a penalty midway in Northwich’s half.

A shorter rolling maul set up another platform, Otley looking to find a hole in the opposition defence before Luke Cole’s long pass found Sam Hodge on the left line who then went onto score on 26 minutes. Otley had a few more chances to score but Northwich’s defence held leaving the half time score at 31-0.

Kicking to the Chevin, Otley took the ball from Northwich at the breakdown with Gavin Stead shrugging off tackles to get the ball into their 22. Otley then marched the scrum forward, Malthouse diving onto the ball as it went over the line.

Another deliberate knock on by Northwich saw the ball go into the clubhouse corner, Luke Cole’s initial run being taken on by Dan Preston-Routledge who scored. Crossland added the conversion as he did with the remaining tries.

Northwich were now down to 14 following a yellow card for persistent infringements, and two quick tries by Elliot Morgan and Connor, from within his own half, just before the hour added to their predicament.

After another missed opportunity, Otley maintained the pressure with a 50:22 to the left hand flank, fortified with penalties which ultimately led to the ball being spun wide to Connor to get his second.

Otley maintained the pressure down the left, Magee’s kick from within his 22 to just outside their 22 was followed by another two Northwich penalties, Henry Roberts came close but it was Luke Cole who scored in the scoreboard corner. A minute later, another 50:22 by Crossland was spun out wide from the line out, Crossland scoring under the posts to announce the highest Otley score this season, 78-0.