The visitors have never beaten the Lions away, and playing against the wind they played some attractive rugby in the first ten minutes. However, it was the hosts who scored first. A good pass from Jon Boden gave Ian Smith a run in under the posts after 12 minutes, James Morgan adding the conversion. The home team went over again five minutes later, having stretched Otley across the park, Drew Rudkin and Boden added the conversion.

Otley continued to play some good rugby. However, having got into the Lions’ 22 a loose pass was intercepted and put the visitors back into their own half before a forward pass broke down the attack. Otley’s persistence finally paid off just after the half-hour mark when, with a penalty in the pocket, Freddie Watson was on the end of a powerful scrum deep in the Lions 22. Joe Rowntree added the conversion.

Just before half time, the Lions' No 8 went through for James Morgan to score and the conversion made the score 21-7.

Otley put themselves under pressure when the failed to gather the restart, eventually giving away a penalty that was put into the corner. Otley survived that attack and after 45 minutes were awarded their own penalty when the Lions came in at the side. Joe Rowntree stepped up to reduce the deficit. The Otley forwards were on top of the Lions pack, although the decisions did not always go with them. After another knock on by the hosts, Otley were penalised this time for apparently wheeling the scrum. Nevertheless a series of errors gave Otley the impetus and Lions gave away another penalty, Joe Rowntree putting the ball through the posts.

He could have had a third after the Lions kicked the restart straight out, and then gave a penalty at the centre-spot scrum. With the wind it could have made it, but after discussion he opted to go for the line and overcooked it. This time it was Otley’s turn to be penalised at the scrum, the league top scorer Devon Constant was straight through but was just held up over the line by the retreating defence.

Max Johnson continued to cause the hosts problems but overall Otley could not find a way to tame the Lions, their replacements keeping the momentum up. The game slipped away as a second try from Morgan and two from Henry Clement put any hopes of a revival beyond them.