Otley seal thrilling win with late try and conversion

Otley secured a fine National League One victory with a remarkable late flourish yesterday.

A try from winger Mark Kirkby was converted by fly half James Murray from the touchline with the last kick of the game.

Playing superb rugby throughout, they were well worth their win, though their tough second-placed opponents twice had a grip on the game, going 17 points ahead after just 12 minutes and turning a 21-17 half-time deficit into a 13-point lead soon after the break.

But they could not contain the young Otley tyros, who had the spirit and skill to hit back.

A promising start by Otley turned sour when full back Frank Neale kicked a penalty on the Exiles' first venture into home territory, and they quickly followed this with tries from prop Andrew Fahey and flanker Oliver Brown, each converted by Neale, but they were more than surprised at the response.

A penalty gave Otley a line-out on the Scottish 22, which was secured by No 8 Ollie Stedman and was whisked along the line where Kirkby appeared from the opposite wing to race in at the corner, Murray securing the first of his four important conversions.

This was followed by two tries from centre Oliver Denton, the first when he chased a kick to gather and run to the posts, and he was on the shoulder of Stedman to finish off the No 8’s break Unhappy at this setback, the visitors responded savagely after half-time, quickly reasserting themselves with a penalty from Neale and tries from centres Ian McInroy and Rory Damant, both converted but they had no answer to Otley’s resolve.

With minutes remaining, skipper Howard Parr broke through to charge downfield and hand on to Christian Georgiou, who finished off, and then came the final try when Kirkby outpaced the cover to get in at the corner.