Otley 17 Luctonians 19

After receiving confirmation that they had been deducted five points for fielding an unregistered player, Otley needed to win at home to Luctonians and hopes were high following recent good performances.

But the visitors triumphed 19-17 and restricted the Cross Greeners to a solitary try.

Mark Ireland’s excellent kicking took Otley to within a couple of points with 26 minutes left when Luctonian centre James Alexander was yellow carded, but he never got another shot at goal.

Ireland opened the scoring with a penalty on 13 minutes but Otley’s midfield was carved open at the restart, full back Jimmy Norris going over to give fly half William Burton a simple conversion. He went over again while lock Stephen Mathews was in the sin-bin.

Wild passes cost Otley endless turnovers but two penalties from Ireland cut the gap to three points.

Alexander scored a converted try before full back Arnie Ellison went over in the corner to give Otley hope, the conversion unfortunately bouncing back off the crossbar.

Ireland’s fourth penalty set the stage but the grandstand finish never appeared.

Winger Nazir Karim got away but was called back for a forward pass. He was also penalised later for putting a foot in touch and it was a disappointed Cross Green when the final whistle blew.