SSE National League Two North

Leicester Lions 14

Otley 8

HAVING racked up an unanswered 30 points the previous week against Hull while the Lions had received a 38-0 drubbing at Hull Ionians suggested Otley might be in line for an away victory but the Midlanders put up a rousing defence, forcing a series of errors from opponents who fell foul of the referee far too often.

Gaining an advantageous line-out from their deep kick-off, Otley went straight on the attack and were awarded a penalty on three minutes which scrum half and skipper-for-the-day Stephen Depledge stroked over.

But any thoughts of an easy ride disappeared immediately when they found themselves under pressure from the re-start, eventually conceding a five-metre scrum and, being pushed backwards, they conceded a penalty.

The Lions opted for another scrum and two repeats led to referee Llyr Ap Geraint Roberts rushing to the posts to award a penalty try, and six minutes later that exercise was repeated and Otley were 14-3 down, fly half Michel Hogan having converted both.

It was time for the Otley forwards to make themselves known and they began to cause the home side some trouble, allowing their backs to take advantage.

One excellent move ended with a sloppy pass going to ground on the line and turnovers were numerous but the Lions defence was sound and there was no change in the score before half-time, the hosts having safely come through the loss of lock Joshua McLaurin to the sin-bin.

The stalemate continued after the break with very little to enthuse about until, on 60 minutes, from a scrum in front of the home posts, Otley flanker Matthew Heaton combined neatly with Depledge to get fly half Tom Rock over, and suddenly the game took on a keener edge.

But too many Otley attacks fizzled out and they found themselves starting again from their half.

However, the visitors were pounding the home line in the final minutes and a try looked almost a certainty but Otley could not find the penetration.