SSE National League Two North

Harrogate 26

Otley 25

FACING a strong wind, Otley found themselves 18-10 down at half-time but took control of the game to begin to look like winners but took too few of their chances.

The visitors reached the final minutes with a slender four-point lead where, for the second time, referee Claire Hodnett penalised them for a dubious high tackle on a rare Harrogate venture in opposition territory.

The penalty was put into the corner where, for once, the Otley pack were overpowered and conceded a try, the final whistle being blown after the conversion attempt hit an upright.

The home side made better use of the wind throughout, causing Otley trouble, and winger Joe Rowntree was given a simple penalty after just four minutes and, running back the re-start, lock Tom Harvey swept through the middle to put centre Lewis Minikin over, Rowntree converting.

Beginning to settle, the Otley forwards began to take charge, winger Kristian Sharples making a great run down his flank before sadly choosing to kick instead of trusting his speed, and they suffered a further setback when Rowntree was given another kick under the posts.

Pushing Harrogate off their ball at a scrum gained Otley a penalty, which was duly kicked by Stephen Depledge, and he was on the mark when winger Harry Hudson, benefitting from a Michael Coady break, went in at the corner.

Against the run of play, Harrogate scored just before the break, with a second for Minikin, but Otley started the second half strongly, moving the ball swiftly crossfield from a line-out, replacement Harry Wales crossing before a penalty for a high tackle allowed Rowntree to ease Harrogate further ahead.

Clean line-out ball, speedily moved, saw Hudson in at the corner, the conversion putting Otley in the lead, and Depledge followed that with a penalty only to succumb to that final blow.