Otley 29, Kendal 9

While both sides could take comfort from yesterday's third-round EDF Energy National Trophy tie at a sodden Cross Green, it was events off the field that caught the eye more.

It started raining in Otley at about 9am on Saturday morning and didn't stop throughout the match.

Therefore, with supporters in the stand sitting at least three or four rows back because it was raining in, it was curious that the number of spectators on the terracing opposite grew from seven at kick-off to nine halfway through the match to 12 in the closing minutes.

And the second half was nicely underway when Kendal fly half Dan Stephens elected to go for a monstrously long-range penalty attempt from near halfway just in front of the terracing towards the changing rooms.

His attempt not only failed to go anywhere near Otley's posts but seemed a deliberate attempt to set up an attack on Kendal's right touchline as many of the visiting players were lining up there.

Otley coach Mark Luffman was doubtless pointing out this infringement to the touch judge in front of the stand when, from a seat to my right five rows up in the stand, a bottle of water was launched at him by a Kendal supporter.

Clearly incensed, Luffman strode into the stand to have words with the offender and he exchanged some steely stares at the same man for several minutes afterwards, the club's duty officer also having words with the visiting fan, who duly apologised.

A few minutes later an anoraked spectator tried to have a sneaky fag at the top of the steps that led from the concrete path beneath the stand.

He was doubtless trying to stay out of the elements but was told by one Otley spectator: "Put it out or I will come and put it out for you."

And as if all this wasn't enough, a medium-sized brown dog ran on to the pitch scurried around the ball and the players and bit Otley full back Robin Kitching on the leg. Fortunately, no serious damage was done.

As for the match, North Division One leaders Kendal, whose 100 fans made themselves heard at various interludes, can be pleased with their efforts against a side who are two divisions higher.

The Cumbrians were warmly applauded at the end of the contest, while Otley, who changed from their black and white strip to blue at half-time, dealt well with what was a potential banana skin.

Only when Kendal pulled it back to 12-6 just before half-time was there the sniff of an upset, and that threat was quickly snuffed out in the second half.

Luffman said afterwards: "Apart from being worried that the players might drown or freeze, I thought we played them (Kendal) pretty well.

"We controlled the game for most periods and the boys did as well as they could in conditions like that.

"I was a little bit disappointed that we weren't further ahead at half-time but the rain and soft ground just made it a farce to a degree.

"It was so cold that a pass from nine to ten was difficult - it wasn't a day for playing any rugby at all - but Kendal are doing fantastically well in their division and came here with a lot of confidence and a lot of enthusiasm.

"They were competitive all the way through, which is what we expected, but I am just really pleased with the lads who played the conditions as well as I thought we could.

"We came out of what could have been a tricky game very well. The lads who were out there from the start did a really good job but I gave what was a strong bench a run out in the second half just to stop them dying as much as anything."

As for the Stephens penalty incident, Luffman said: "It was clearly pre-planned. There was no attempt at goal and it should have been a penalty to us."

Kitching, who wore skin-tight leggings, as did left winger Danny Smith, was wide with a penalty as early as the second minute after Kendal were offside.

But from their first decent attacking situation, the hosts scored in the 13th minute, hooker Ben Steele getting a try, Kitching being unlucky with his conversion attempt.

Four minutes later a touch judge intervened to award Otley their second try, former Bees prop Ryan Wederall getting the touchdown from a forward drive and Kitching adding a fine conversion.

The accurate Stephens (when he wanted to be) then added a penalty and a drop goal - the latter as he was falling sideways - to put the result in doubt just before half-time.

That hope swiftly evaporated, however, as a neat Alistair Monks pass put winger Steve Parsons in for a neat try in the 44th minute, Kitching converting.

A second Stephens penalty three minutes later gave Kendal renewed vigour but he missed with another attempt in the 55th minute and Otley finished on top with a Kitching penalty and his conversion of an injury-time try by flanker Xavier Andre.