The game was held up for 55 minutes while waiting for the ambulance because of a neck injury to Ben Fairclough. Fortunately Ben was discharged from hospital that evening, although his season is over. Otley also lost Chris Gemmell with a dislocated shoulder.

Darlington MP put early pressure on Otley and after two penalties taking them to within five metres of the line, where after a battle, after 5 minutes the home side’s lock Talite Viaolete was driven over, fly half Maxwell Connor converting. However by the quarter hour Otley were level, replying with a good drive, the ball being moved across the field and back for full back Arnie Ellison to score, Mark Ireland converting.

The home side restored their 7-point lead after 23 minutes their captain Cameron Mitchell found a gap in Otley’s defence to go over. After the restart Darlington MP mounted further assaults on the Otley defence that initially saw Nazir Karim bundled over and, in the same move, the injury to Ben Fairclough that halted the game.

Both sets of players had to warm up again and once the game started again Otley suffered two yellow cards for bringing down the maul in successive moves, which understandably stretched our defence. It was perhaps inevitable that Darlington MP would extend their lead. From a catch and drive lineout, their flanker William Macaulay touched down from the back of a maul going over. The conversion was missed.

To their credit, it was Otley who scored next. A charging run by Tom O’Donnell followed by a chip by Mark Ireland, after which passes from Stephen Depledge to Mark Gemmell and finally to Nazir Karim who went over to score in the corner. Just before half time, Vaioleti opened up the Otley defence and when he was hauled down, he supplied the scoring pass to prop Josh Bayford, who scored near the posts making the score 24 - 12.

Back up to full strength after the break it was Otley who started with more purpose, and within four minutes they had reduced the deficit. A rolling maul was halted in front of the host’s posts, and so the ball was passed out to the right wing to try there. When that was thwarted, the ball was brought back into the centre and after a series of pick and drives Tom O’Donnell powered over the line. Mark Ireland added the extras to put Otley within seven.

From the restart, Darlington moved into Otley territory swiftly and winger Lewis Johnson cut a cracking angled run, piercing the defence and scoring under the posts. Darlington’s centre Andrew Smith was yellow carded for a dangerous tackle and two minutes Nazir Karim was over for his second try of the day after a pinpoint kick in the corner. Again Otley were within seven and the home side looked flustered.

However Darlington put the game out of sight with two penalties on 70 and 77 and although Otley tried to fought gamely to reduce the deficit and at very least get two bonus points, it was not to be.