National League Two North: Sheffield Tigers 35 Otley 21

OTLEY couldn't crown Ben Steele's 300th league appearance with a National League Two North victory at Sheffield Tigers.

The visitors were 29-7 down at half-time when the veteran hooker came on and, although he helped to lead a fightback in the 35-21 defeat, he didn't see the game out, coming off with an ankle injury in the 68th minute.

However, Otley had given themselves too much to do conceding five tries in the first half.

The weather did not have much of an impact on the game, with most of the points being scored against the wind.

The visitors started brightly and were in the hosts' 22 when the ball was turned over, William Wallace breaking two tackles to score down the right-hand flank.

Otley did have a chance to reduce the deficit after a Tiger was caught off his feet, but the attempt rattled the upright, with the wind taking it back into touch.

In the Tigers' second attack, started by Peter Swatkins, Jamie Broadley went over, and Otley's situation did not get any better after 15 minutes as Chris Pond sped in from 50 metres before Broadley evaded two tacklers to get his second try.

Both of these tries were converted by former Otley player Mark Ireland.

Playing with the wind, Otley continued to press the Tigers, and the pressure told when they were penalised for holding on.

The penalty was put into the right-hand corner and was followed by a rolling maul, with Simon Willet touching down and Joe Rowntree adding a magnificent touchline conversion.

However, Otley were finding it difficult to contain the home backs and, although a desperate tackle by Alex Beaumont saved a certain try, Tigers pressure finally told and Swatkins went over in the left-hand corner just as the half ended to make it 29–7.

One minute into the second half, Otley gave away a penalty on their ten-metre line, which Ireland converted.

Battling against the wind, Otley battled their way some 40 metres to get into the Tigers half before the hosts were caught offside.

Otley elected to take a scrum, and Tigers were unable to contain the visitors, first collapsing it and then standing up in it before, on the third scrum, Otley where awarded a penalty try.

The visitors' forward dominance was beginning to tell, and Will Rigg went over after 68 minutes, with Rowntree again converting.

Sheffield extended their lead with another Ireland penalty when Otley were caught off their feet with eight minutes left, but after that it was back up the other end.

With two minutes to go, Otley elected for another scrum on the 22 which the Tigers collapsed, earning a yellow card.

Electing for another scrum, the ball, unfortunately for Otley, slipped out and was hacked upfield, with the visitors ending the game defending in their 22.