Otley 20 Leicester Lions 25

OTLEY had to settle for a losing bonus point after failing to tame the Lions at Cross Green.

The visitors owed their success to a strong first-half performance which left Otley with too much to do.

After a series of early exchanges the Lions took the lead with an easy penalty by Jon Boden.

Otley were back on the spot when their kick-off went dead.

Undaunted the home side prodded the Lions and were rewarded when Joe Graham broke the line to give Tom Hodson a clear run to the line for a try which Joe Rowntree converted.

The Lions responded by putting Otley under constant pressure and a try by Alex Wilcockson in the corner was followed by another when Luke Veebel sent Harry Key racing away down the touchline. Boden converted the second try after 24 minutes.

Their third try came from Dan Ali when he picked up after John Murdoch was tackled.

Their bonus point score came when Devon Constant’s searing run put in Harry Clement four minutes before half-time.

Otley came out fighting and within two minutes had reduced the deficit.

From a line-out conceded from a penalty, Otley's pack presented Brett Mitchell with the chance to peel off from the maul to score.

moved the ball in with Brett Mitchell peeling off to score.

Otley keeping harrying the visitors but could not make their possession count.

They eventually scored on the hour, when Oli Goss put Mike Coady through for a try under the posts.

Otley had had the better of the second half and were looking for their fourth try, but their only reward was a Rowntree penalty.