Having kicked off against Hull Ionians, Ben Waddington’s run from his half was the spark that led to Otley’s first points in the second minute – a penalty by Joe Rowntree from just outside Ionians’ 22. The visitors kept the pressure up and were rewarded again when Ionians strayed offside, Rowntree getting his second from virtually the same spot.

Otley stayed within Hull’s half and were rewarded in the twelfth minute when Jack Gilmartin’s pass to Malthouse just outside the 22 gave the Otley skipper an unopposed run to the line. Having dotted down under the posts, Rowntree’s conversion sailed through the posts to give Otley a 0-13 lead.

An Ionian incursion into Otley’s half halted after the ball went forward, Otley getting a penalty at the resultant scrum the sequence ending with a goal-line drop out and followed by a drop goal attempt. The home side then started to click, being bundled into touch just short of the line. They got a scrum in Otley’s 22 followed by a penalty into the corner, a catch and drive took them over for a try by Ally Forth and a touch-line conversion by Lewis Minikin.

They were back for a second within a minute, George Mewburn taking the ball into Otley’s half before it went into touch. A misfire at the line-out gave possession back to Ionians, the ball was swung left and Sam Wilson broke through the Otley defence to score. A second conversion for Minikin to put Ionians into the lead for the first time on 26 minutes.

Just before the half hour, the home side were held up over the line but an earlier side entry resulted in a yellow card for the visitors. Otley’s line held and Sam Taylor was able to regain possession to enable the visitors to clear their lines. However, Ionians stayed within Otley’s half and Scott Westwood grounded the ball after a rolling maul from 5 metres out to give the home side a 19-13 half-time lead.

With the wind now behind them, Ionians had an early opportunity to score but Waddington’s tap back interrupted a crucial pass metres from the line. Callum Irvine’s kick put Otley back into Ionian’s 22 , with Clark Wells tackling the Ionian back to apply pressure and the wonky pass was seized upon by Otley. They then moved the ball right, tried to score under the posts, before Sam Hodge scored in the corner.

That try spurred Otley on and with scrum dominance they began to stamp their mark on the game. Having absorbed some pressure, Otley broke out of their half for Eddie Crossland to weave his way through the Ionian’s defence to score under the posts. Rowntree’s kick went through and Otley were back in front 19-25.

A Hull kick towards Otley’s line was taken over by Wells to give them a five metre scrum. Mewburn came close to the line but, while this was going on, an off the ball incident saw Waddington get a red on the hour mark. Being a man down Otley were unable to hold the Ionian pack and Joe Makin scored from the back of the drive. Minikin’s conversion gave the home side the lead again, which they extended with a converted try by Alan Hudson five minutes later.

With ten minutes left Otley regained the lead when Irvine launched the ball skywards leaving the Hull defence looking for the stars. Duncan Darling was more focussed, and took the ball on the bounce mid-way in Hull’s half to run to the line unopposed. Rowntree’s conversion took his overall tally to 600 points.

With everything to play for the game continued at pace. Otley’s hearts were nearly broken when ex-Otley player Cameron Burnhill went over with some four minutes left. Minikin converted and added a penalty with less than 90 seconds to go after Otley failed to release on their 10 metre line.

Now with just one point to their name, Otley’s never say die attitude kicked in. With time up they had a goal line drop out. Clark caught Irvine’s short kick and from there Otley moved forward, getting one penalty in their 22 and another when Hull took out Rowntree at the break-down just inside their half. With the crowd hushed, Rowntree’s kick had the legs to give Otley two bonus points to end what was a thrilling encounter.