With the Chevin and wind behind them, they kicked off and within two minutes were on the scoreboard with a Lewis Minikin penalty. However, their lead was short-lived. From an Otley line-out, Rory Gaffney broke down the left flank. Eddie Crossland then put in one of his trademark cross-field kicks to a waiting Sam Taylor who unselfishly passed to Ben Dinsdale who had the line waiting for him. Joe Rowntree added the conversion.

Otley gained a scrum penalty which went into the scoreboard corner from where the backs moved the ball across the pitch Sam Taylor coming in at the angle to score.

From a line-out in their half, Ionians launched an attack led by Minikin who took them up to Otley’s 22. The ball was quickly re-cycled out to the right to Sam Wilson who skipped past defenders to score. Minikin’s conversion brought the home advantage back to two points 12-10.

Otley then took the game away from the Ionians, scoring four unanswered tries in 15 minutes. After a couple of phases by both sides, a loose pass by the visitors in their half was pounced upon by Jacob Holmes, Gaffney’s pass as he was tackled went to Taylor who sped his way to the line. Sam Pocklington went over for Ionians, but the try was chalked off for a forward pass.

After the scrum Alex Johnson nicked a line out in Otley’s half, two penalties then got them into Ionians 22. From a line-out in the clubhouse corner, Otley were made to work for their fourth try. It came when Crossland slipped his way through to the line, passing to Gaffney who finished the move. Rowntree’s conversion took the score to 26-10.

Hull kept Otley in their half after the restart, until Sam Hodge flew over the line giving the ball to Taylor on the I’s 10 metre line who then outpaced three defenders in the race for the line. Rowntree got the conversion. Ionians knocked on in the tackle in Otley’s half, with Michael Graham picking up and with a chip and chase made it to within 5 metres of the line. Otley stayed within distance and Dinsdale eventually finding that porous spot to score, with Rowntree getting his final conversion of the day.

Otley kept up the pressure but it was Ionians who scored next. They were caught offside in the opposition 22. A second penalty was put into the cemetery corner. Their forwards made it to the line, the ball being recycled to Josh Britton who scored next to the posts. Minikin’s conversion also signalled half time.

The first ten minutes of the second half were spent in Ionians’ half. Just as Ionians nearly got out, Crossland hacked on a loose pass and set off in pursuit. He just managed to get his hands on the ball just before the accompanying defender.

The restart saw play in Otley’s half, Ionians looking for a way through. Their cause was momentarily aided when Crossland went to the bin for a deliberate knock on in the clubhouse corner. A minute later Chris Morton was given a yellow for stamping as his pack marched their way over Otley’s line, and the try was not awarded. I’s kept up the pressure and got a 5 metre scrum close to the posts, swinging the ball wide for Wilson to get his second. Three minutes later No 8 George Mewburn scored with little opposition, Minikin adding the conversion to bring the scores within 14 at 43-29.

Crossland restarted the game, shortly afterwards taking a pass on the half way line before reaching the Ionian 22 with Gaffney in support, passing to the scrum half who finished the break with his second try. After a knock-on by Ionians at a line-out in their 22, Otley’s scrum saw Josh Sarsfield ran from outside the 22 to score to bring up the half century – their first in just over two years. Crossland added the conversion.

Ionians knew points difference might be an issue and having started from just outside his 22, Minikin ran the length, Sam Wilson returning the ball to him, to score an unconverted try with a couple of minutes left. The game ended in Otley’s 22 when Hull Ionians held onto the ball for too long, Crossland kicking the ball off the pitch.