Having kicked off, Otley pressed Billingham’s defence hard but were unable to find a way through. A long relieving kick into Otley’s 22 was met with a great run by Steve Nolson setting up Paul Petchey to score after four minutes.

Billingham got onto scoreboard after 14 minutes, Otley had a scrum close to their line when the ball spewed out, Dan Dixon going over and Dan Finney converted. Two minutes later the visitors extended their lead when wingers Eldon Myers scored from Otley’s 10 metre line.

Petchey was in the thick of it again and having run from the half way line chipped the last defender, only to be late tackled. The penalty was put into the clubhouse corner, and the ball was moved across the pitch – a try went begging when the ball out of play. Although their line out needs work, Otley were becoming dominant in the scum. At one scrum, they pushed Billingham back some 5 metres setting up Brett Mitchell to score and to make the score at half time 10-12.

Billingham got their third try when full back Elliot Husband scored, this try being cancelled out when Ben Magee went over from close range after 52 minutes. Otley then got a penalty which they put into the cemetery corner, Lewis Cooper being driven over by his forwards. A run from the half way line by Ben Magee saw Otley get their fifth try, giving Joe Rowntree an easy conversion.

Billingham found Tom Casson a handful when he came on, and he was instrumental in setting up Ben Magee to get his third try and Rowntree’s second conversion. Tom’s grubber kick around Otley’s 22 set up Steve Nolson to get his first try. Billingham did get a consolation converted try, but having started the scoring Petchey got the final one which Joe Rowntree converted.