Ben Steele made an early impact on his return after a long injury spell, scoring five minutes in, his only other game this season was when he came on as replacement in the away match against Chester. The home forwards quickly settled, an early penalty securing a lineout in the visitors’ 22 from where a solid drive secured a five-metre scrum Ben Steele was heaved over the line to secure a lead.

A good break by captain Stephen Depledge almost brought a second but a turnover on the line ended with a penalty, Chester clearing to move upfield where Rhys Hayes kicked a penalty six minutes later he kicked another giving them the lead. However Stephen Depledge kicked a penalty after 23 minutes restoring Otley’s lead.

Otley were having the edge in the forwards’ battle and Chester’s captain was sin-binned. The home side continued to exert pressure and were rewarded just after the half hour mark, a drive from out a lineout on the 22 ended with Matt Heaton going over in the left-hand corner. The conversion curled its way between the posts. Two minutes before the end of the half, Stephen Depledge was also sin-binned for a deliberate knock on stifling a possible chance for the visitors, and they settled for a third penalty from Hayes to keep Chester in the hunt.

Chester came out for the second half full of spirit, keeping Otley pinned in their half for the first 15 minutes but finding it impossible to break an all-enveloping cover. It really was great defensive work by all the Otley players, and they work as a team to keep their lines secure. Having weathered the storm, the home side reversed the situation. A great run by Nick Coupland and pass to Michael Coady came to nothing when the ball was knocked forward, but the visitors’ stranglehold had been broken.

Chester wheeled their own scrum in their 22 giving Otley the initiative. Freddie Watson got the ball to Stephen Depledge from the base of the scrum. Depledge then broke to break through to score a try, bringing his points’ tally this season so far to 100 and giving Otley a 20-9 lead.

The visitors reduced the deficit some five minutes later with another penalty from Rhys Hayes. The on 75 minutes he came up on the outside to finish off a long distance move, going in at the corner and then kicked the conversion to bring them within a point. Otley won a penalty at the restart to set up a close-in lineout close to the clubhouse. Winning the ball they mounted a number of attacks in an attempt to secure a fourth try and the bonus point. However, with time up, the collective decision was not to risk the win and Stephen Depledge kicked the ball into touch.

Picture - Sam Cook - man of the match
WIth thanks to John Finch