Halifax 13, Otley 24

Otley scored their third try in the 26th minute and, with winger Robin Kitching converting them from all angles, they had victory well in hand in yesterday's National League Two derby at Ovenden Park.

However, their first error was probably to take the next three points on offer under the posts, instead of pressing home their obvious supremacy and going for the bonus try.

After that, Otley were unable to add to their total, due in part to a tremendous effort from the Halifax pack, who showed how to execute a close-in drive.

Yes, the referee was rather lenient when it came to the offside law but mostly it was a lackadaisical display from Otley, who declined to bring their powerful wingers into the game.

Though unable to get any possession, Halifax kept Otley at bay for 14 minutes before scrum half Dave McCormack recovered poor line-out ball to feed Jonathan Buchanan, who cut inside, brushing off tacklers before veering out wide to race into the corner.

Nine minutes later, this time from good line-out possession, Steve Parsons came into the line on halfway to burst through before handing on to Paul Mooney, who went in at the corner.

It was beginning to look too easy when Paul Williams scooped up a ricochet from an attempted Halifax kick through to race in from halfway, just making the line despite pulling a hamstring which led to him being replaced.

Flanker Xavier Andre made a lightning run through the middle, a last-ditch tackle bringing him down just ten metres out for Kitching to kick the penalty when Halifax transgressed.

But that was to be the end of Otley's scoring, with the home side redressing the balance right on half-time when a penalty secured them a five-metre line-out and they demonstrated to their visitors how to execute a drive, prop George Jenkins grounding and full back Joseph Knowles converting.

Three minutes after the break, Knowles kicked a penalty and this appeared to revitalise Otley, who spent the next 15 minutes hammering on the home line but without reward.

It was a dogged effort by Halifax's forwards and their backs tackled resolutely, although they were allowed a defensive line of their choosing.

Halifax finally broke away for Knowles to add a second penalty.

It was then Otley's turn to defend, and home winger Ben Mitchell went over in the corner only to be denied by a forward pass.

But even when the visitors began to assert themselves again, they could not conjure up that important fourth try, though there was great surprise and disappointment when Kitching was put clear on 80 minutes only to be pulled back for a forward pass.

No added time was played.