Otley’s director of rugby James Tiffany was more concerned about the result than having a string of players unavailable after the 31-27 home defeat by Chester in SSE National League Two North.

The Cross Greeners were missing a back-rower, a lock, a prop, a scrum half and three potential centres last Saturday but Tiffany said: “The 15 players on the field are what matters but we didn’t achieve what we set out to, which was a win.

“The frustrating thing was that we didn’t play at a higher level.”

One of the penalties kicked by Chester fly half Rhys Hayes was advanced ten metres for dissent, and Tiffany said: “The players know my feelings about discipline, and the outcome was that we lost territory.”

Otley are at Leicester Lions on Saturday, and Tiffany added: “It will be a difficult game but we need to focus on our performance.

“We are likely to be without Jack Mackie until Christmas after his groin repair and Steve Depledge for another couple of weeks with a shoulder injury but the rest of the injuries are short term and they will be asseseed at training.”