Otley kicked off towards the mist covered Chevin hoping to upset the apple cart, but it was not to be. They started confidently but a line-out in the Wharfedale half gave possession back to the visitors. Their backs quickly ran the ball into the Otley half where Elliot Stockton would have been through but for forward pass. However, they already had penalty up their sleeve and Rob Davidson kicked for the corner. They got another penalty when Otley collapsed the maul, and a catch and drive from six metres was efficiently executed with Jack Pinder getting the try.

Three minutes later he got a yellow for a tip tackle on Jacob Holmes on the Wharfedale 10 metre line. From the line-out Otley made it to the five metre line but knocked the ball on as it was being passed out to the left. Wharfedale got out of their half but later in the play found themselves back in when they were caught offside. From the line-out Otley moved the ball right, and got another penalty when the Greens failed to release in their left hand corner. Otley got two penalties at the two scrums, opting for a tap and go on the second but then lost possession in the tackle.

Play then moved into the Otley half but a wayward Wharfedale pass into touch gave the impetus back to Otley. They strung an eleven phase move together making it to within five metres of the line, but a side-entry finished off the promising move.

From the line-out in the Otley half, Wharfedale launched another attack and a high tackle on the other side of the pitch by Otley saw the ball kicked within metres of their line. Another catch and drive was finished with Robbie Collinson getting the touch down on 26 minutes.

After Otley rebutted another ‘Dale attack, the half ended when the opposition kicked the ball into touch from their half. Despite the 10 point deficit, there was nothing to suggest the position wasn’t recoverable in the second.

That proposition became more difficult when Otley lost possession on Wharfedale’s 10 metre line, from where Oli Cicognini’s break down the left was finished off by a diving Ryan Hodgson in the scoreboard corner with just two minutes on the clock. Otley then had two spells in the Wharfedale 22, but were unable to get to the 5 metre line. From a line out on Otley’s 10 metre line, James Coulton then broke through the Otley defence before passing to Robbie Davidson with the posts in his sights – Davidson getting his first conversion.

Defending Wharfedale’s next attack, the game was suspended for 15 minutes after George Bowen was knocked unconscious in the tackle and had to be stretchered off.

After the game restarted Otley were kept in their half, conceding a scrum when they knocked on. From that platform, scrum-half Tom Darwin ran right before passing, the move ending with a Harry Bullough try in the corner. After a kick fest ended in tragedy for Otley when a 50:22 emerged for Wharfedale, and the catch and drive was finished off when replacement Josh Burridge touched down. Davidson landed the conversion just after the hour mark.

The seventh try came after Otley were able to stop another catch and drive short of their line, but Wharfedale recycled the ball towards the cemetery, Hodgson getting his second. Davidson finished off the scoring with eight minutes to go.

Needless to say Wharfedale left Cross Green the happier team with their highest league score against Otley, but still one point behind Otley’s highest against them.

Our thanks go to referee Nathan Howarth for his quick actions in stopping the game after George Bowen’s injury, and to the medical teams from both sides for the professional handling of the situation. George was subsequently discharged from hospital after a check-up without any further interventions, and he will now adhere to the concussion protocols. All being well, he should be playing again in two weeks.