Both teams came into this game with something to prove. Otley, having been beaten by Birmingham Solihull the week before had to get back to winning ways, DoR James Tiffany said of that game “We came up a bit short. After a very successful period for us this was a reality check. We had plenty of possession and chances early in the game which we didn’t take. We were also sloppy at time and showed a bit of naivety which cost us in the end.” Caldy had yet to find their first win of their season, having a hard series of opening games and had clearly targeted this match as the one!

Caldy were the first to get onto to the scoresheet after 5 minutes with a penalty, and although Mark Ireland also slotted one over after 12 minutes, Richard Vasey kicked his second giving the visitors a 6-3 lead on the quarter hour. Otley were the first over the try line after 17 minutes when they took possession and swung the game towards the right hand corner, Harry Hudson going over after some neat passing. Mark Ireland added the extras. Jonathan Stannard was the next to go over as the half hour loomed and with the conversion made, things were going in the right direction for the home side.

However it was Caldy that were next on the score sheet on the half hour when their right-winger Ben Eaves went over, followed three minutes later when their prop Derek Salisbury scored, and after yet another three minutes Ben Eaves was over again. With Richard Vasey on target with all three conversions, roles had been reversed and it was Caldy that appeared the sharper of the two sides.

As the half came to an end, Otley were pressuring Caldy’s line and for their persistence were awarded a penalty try after the referee decided he had had enough, sending lock Tom Saunders to the bin for a professional foul. The home supporters felt that if that pressure could be replicated in the second half, the boys would easily cover the four-point difference in the 27-24 half-time score.

But it was Caldy that went on the offensive in the second half, keeping Otley pegged back in their half for the first 20 minutes although try as they might they could not breach Otley’s defence. During this period Chris Gemmell was adjudged to have illegally tackled a Caldy player and spent ten minutes in the bin.

As if a clock chimed the hour mark, the roles were reversed and it was Otley’s turn to lay siege, not needing to return to their own half. Caldy’s defence held but with their penalty count mounting, Christian Jones was next to see yellow with some 10 minutes to go. Otley had the bit between their teeth and spurned a penalty which could have made the scores level, and instead went for the win.

Otley captain Adam Blades was held up over the line in the 74th minute, although the close crowd felt otherwise, and undaunted Otley regrouped to try again. Would it be Otley’s day? Having battered at the visitors for what seemed like an age with the clock ticking down, just as Caldy returned to full strength they were again down to 14 when replacement prop Joshua Grant-Butler was sin-binned. In the ensuing confusion Stephen Depledge dived over for the match-winning try to the obvious delight (and relief) of his team-mates and the home crowd. Mark Ireland brought the game to a conclusion with the conversion, and Otley returned to fifth in the league.

Andrew Hanlon, a new arrival from Moortown, nearly got on as a replacement in the dying moments but didn’t make it. His picture is on the website.

As well as Chris Dyson's, Paul Barratt's photographs have also been put onto the site.