Otley 27, Stourbridge 35

This was a mixed bag of an SSE National League Two North game for Otley, who stood up pretty well against a bigger side who gave them a hard time in ruck and maul.

The hosts fought back when they seemed about to be overrun, giving the impression that they might steal a victory, only to fall from grace with some loose play.

The league’s leading points scorers were on view, Mark Ireland opening up with a penalty in the fifth minute for Otley.

But a solid drive saw the visitors go ahead when centre Stephan Shillingford was bundled over, the second-highest league scorer, winger James Hearn, who was to convert all five of Stourbridge tries, opening his account.

Ireland came back with a second penalty but Stourbridge, sticking to their plan, drove over from a five-metre line-out, flanker Nigel Mukarati grounding on 33 minutes.

Then, running back the restart, a crosskick from winger Nathan Bressington fell nicely for lock Niles Dacre to dive onto.

Starting the second-half 21-6 down, Otley fought back immediately, former Wharfedale scrum half James Doherty, on his debut, hacking a loose ball through to follow up and score.

Then Dan Temm, picking up at the base of a scrum in the visitors' 22, broke to the line, only to be sin-binned minutes later, and in his absence they leaked a couple of tries.

Another rolling maul ended with prop Adam Sturdy scoring and, again from the re-start, poor attempts to tackle allowed Shillingford to go clean through the middle and, with just 15 minutes remaining, Otley found themselves 15 points in arrears.

There was no doubting Otley’s commitment and they hounded the visitors’ line, their replacement No 8 James Rodley being shown a red card, and Otley were eventually awarded a penalty try, Ireland kicking his third conversion.

But, despite all the pressure, Otley failed even to grab a bonus point.