Although Otley kicked-off, the Lions were first to react Andrew’s Murdoch run at Otley’s defence led to Lions’ penalty which was kicked into touch. The ball was then moved across the pitch before Devon Constant went over after three minutes, the conversion attempt hitting the upright. Otley responded with a penalty through Tom Hodson before James Grayson restored the Lions’ lead with a drop goal, and Hodson reduced the deficit again with another penalty when Leicester failed to roll away at the breakdown.

Just before quarter hour Otley were caught napping and let the Lions through, Oliver Tapscott going through from just outside Otley’s 22 untouched and giving Grayson an easier conversion. Three minutes later Otley were back on the scoreboard, a fluent move from Leicester’s 22 saw the ball go through four pairs of hands before Paul Petchey scored in the corner. The tight conversion angle from the touchline did not phase Tom Hodson as the ball sailed between the posts.

The quarter point saw the first scrum of the match, although Otley later lost Luke Chadwick to the sin-bin for pulling down. The Lions then took control of the game as Drew Rudkin touched down from a catch and drive for the line with Grayson converting. Petchey was nearly over again in the left hand corner, but he put a foot in touch on his way through. Otley went on to press again, but an interception pass eventually led to James Grayson going over at the wrong end, his conversion making the half time score 29-13.

Otley played some much better rugby in the second half, and after seven minutes the crowd were rewarded with the best try of the game. From just inside the Lions’ half Max Johnson got the ball out to James White who passed it to Tom Hodson. He then cut inside, avoided an ankle tackle before out-running the defence to score under the posts. Declan Dunn was the foundation of Otley’s third try, chasing his own kick down the right hand side. Otley were able to recycle the ball across to the other side of the pitch where Paul Petchey scored. The conversion meant that Otley were in losing bonus point territory with just over ten minutes to go.

The visitor’s continued to press but their job was made more difficult when Grayson increased the home side’s lead to seven from a penalty just inside Otley’s 22 with a minute to go.