Tynedale came down from N1 at the end of last season, and are finding it difficult to adjust. They were beaten by Stourbridge last Saturday and are struggling to find some consistency. Tynedale have recently beaten Broadstreet and South Leicester, but have lost all six of their matches on their travels so far. A word of caution, we have never beaten Tynedale in the leagues, the closest we came was in the opening encounter during the 2009-10 season. In that match at Cross Green we drew 23-23, and subsequently Tynedale lead the series 3-0.

If there was ever an opportunity to starting redressing the balance, it is this weekend. The lads have found some form, with just one defeat (against league leaders Macclesfield) in the last seven games has put us just behind the promotion hopefuls – a position we have not been in since the start of the 2012-13 season. Cross Green is starting to become a fortress again, and Otley have not lost in the front of their own supporters since September – and ones of those was a really close affair.

Living in the shadow of Hadrian’s wall, Tynedale will be venturing south to breach Otley’s defences. Their Head of Rugby, Andy Buist, has called on his players to increase levels of desire at Otley having had Buist added: ‘It is going to be a difficult game because Otley are a good team. It is a big test for us and everyone is looking forward to it’.

So are we!

No Otley team news at the time of going to press!