It was Otley's unenforced errors and an inability to read the referee, plus a last-minute penalty miss, that cost them the full points.

Their problems began at selection, lock Simon Willett, No 7 Dan Temm and fly half Ben Cooper all having to be replaced, but all looked well until the referee began to find fault with Otley’s rucking. He constantly signalled handling, presenting fly half Greg Lound with an afternoon to remember as he stroked over six penalties from all angles.

Hull opened the scoring with a sixth-minute penalty but, claiming the re-start, Otley drove forward and centre Michael Coady powered through to the line, stand-in goal-kicker Stephen Depledge converting. Hull retook the lead when winger Alex Piercy went in at the corner for Lound to convert but it lasted just a couple of minutes, Coady catching a Hull kick in his own half and evading all attempts to stop him.

Winger James Wood outpaced the defence to score and, after another Lound penalty, James Twomey scampered over, Depledge converting for a 24-13 lead. Hull fought back with a converted try from skipper Chris Murphy and the inevitable penalty.

Penalties either side of half-time gave Otley a boost but they twice passed to the opposition with the line at their mercy. However Lound reduced the deficit and after their third penalty in the 56th minute Hull regained the lead. Hull also had their chances to secure the game close to Otley’s line, and twice they knocked on when tries seemed the only outcome.

Otley still had a chance to snatch it at the death with a penalty but the ball hit the wrong side of the upright, and so they left Hull with two points.

With thanks to John Finch.