Otley effectively kept them there for the next twenty minutes but couldn’t capitalise on the territory. They had their chances, a grubber kick ten metres out was redirected by the Harrogate defence and a line-out five metres out was fluffed.

When Harrogate did get out, Otley conceded a penalty with their hands on the ground beyond the ball allowing Jack Mallinson to kick the ball into the clubhouse corner. From there, their maul made their way to the line with Steve Maycock touching down and then Mallinson added the conversion.

Shortly afterwards, Otley had a great chance down the left flank but the final pass was too high for the winger to take. From the scrum Otley were taken back just inside their half where Alfie Hewitt managed to wrestle the ball from Harrogate before passing it to Harvey Sellers. The centre then ran forty metres to score, Freddie Spensley’s conversion levelling the scores on 25 minutes.

Unable to take the ball cleanly, it hit another Harrogate player further up the field giving Otley a penalty opportunity on the 10-metre line. Unfortunately, it drifted left but they had another chance from the same line which was kicked into the left-hand 22. They moved it in front of the posts but then lost possession, a deliberate knock-on exacerbating the position. The half-ended 7-7.

Otley kicked off the second half towards the Chevin and Harrogate were unable to take the ball, giving Otley an attacking chance. They took it and five metres out they battled hard, getting a penalty for their efforts. A tap-and-go fell just short but Leon Mudd took over and got the five points with Spensley adding another two, two minutes into the half.

Harrogate launched a sustained attack and whilst Otley held them back, they got a penalty after Otley played the nine just outside their 22. Harrogate kicked into the left-hand corner, five metres out. A long throw then saw the opposition pack grind their way to the line, Dom Dalby followed by Mallinson doing the honours.

Two minutes later, Harrogate took the lead again. Otley had been working the ball across the pitch but failed to take one of the passes. Gregg Minikin was on it quickly just outside his 22. He took it to the halfway line before passing it to Tom Steene who did the remaining forty, the conversion attempt just slicing the wrong side of the upright.

An exchange of kicks ended with Otley having a line-out in the front of the stand, Ant McCormack taking the ball who got it to Will Beanland. It then went through the backs’ hands until it reached the other side of the pitch where Josh Sarsfield took a high pass just inside his half. He then kicked it on, doing it again once in the opposition 22 before diving on it beyond the try line just beating an incoming defender. Spensley’s kick from the side-line on the hour mark gave Otley a slender lead.

Shortly after the restart Harrogate were on Otley’s 10 metre line with the ball, but Angus Wilson sustained a nasty injury to his lower leg and had to go to hospital. We wish him a speedy recovery. Harrogate got a penalty shortly after the resumption in front of the posts, but the 30-metre kick went wide.

After a dead ball drop-out kick by Harrogate, from the 10-metre line Otley had a 30 phase move which got to within metres of the line where they conceded a penalty for holding on - thwarting their ambitions.

Harrogate’s pack were beginning to show their dominance, keeping the game in the Otley half. They kept out a sustained attack and managed to gather a grubber kick just short of the line, only to lose it allowing Conor Miller to score and Harrogate the win with a minute left.

Harrogate pictures by Daniel Kerr could be found at https://www.harrogaterugby.com/photos/otley-rufc-vs-harrogate-rufc--national-league-2-north--050926--pictures-by-daniel-kerr-dkkaptured-1177310.html