Otley 18, Blackheath 17

The embrace at the final whistle between Jamie Sutton, Howard Parr and Ollie Stedman proved how much yesterday's victory meant to Otley.

Their first win in four National League One matches and only their second in nine was greeted noisily by home supporters in the Scrattin’ Shed and should put an extra spring in the players’ steps ahead of next Saturday’s visit to second-placed London Scottish.

As captain, Sutton had sprinted out of the changing rooms first at the start of each half but on each occasion the 38-year-old was only a few strides behind him, as a good lieutenant should be.

Having re-signed for the club for which he has so much affection, Parr had been denied his second debut two weekends ago after an accident while out running in which he suffered an ankle injury.

But second row Parr was a much happier man after helping to defeat mid-table Blackheath, the win moving Otley above Redruth and out of a relegation position.

He said: “Otley means so much to me and we deserved the victory for the tremendous hard work that we put in.

“I know it’s a cliché but it was a game of two halves because it was a very windy day.

“They got in front in the first half but we showed great determination in the second half.”

Parr, who has been playing for Henley Hawks before returning to Cross Green, added: “We were a bit naïve in not getting the ball off the pitch at the end of the first half and the second half but we are a young side and need to learn from that.

“Also we let their No 9 snipe around the side of the ruck but we showed huge heart in that last ten to 15 minutes.

“I hope I contributed to the win and hopefully we can kick on now. We need as many wins as we can get to move us up that table.”

In a match that had an unusual start, referee Marcus Caton making Otley kick-off twice, the home side began on the front foot.

Curtis Wilson drifted over to the right wing in the second minute and made good ground before off-loading to fellow winger James Twomey.

Prop Gareth Denman and Parr drove for the whitewash but Caton ruled that they were held up over the line.

But Blackheath played with the greater enterprise in that first stanza, breaking Otley’s line all too easily and frequently, full back Ralph Smith crossing twice, with fly half Paul Humphries adding a penalty and two conversions.

Otley kept in touch, however, thanks to tries by flanker Rob Afoa-Peterson, after a fine drive in the tenth minute, and, right on the stroke of half-time, Stedman, full back Christian Georgiou landing a penalty and a conversion to reduce the arrears to 17-15.

Home fans were not happy that Otley were kicking possession away in the second half but they took the lead in the 64th minute after a midfield break by centre Joel Gill resulted in Blackheath being caught offside, Georgiou doing the necessary with the penalty.

Having finally got a sustained head of steam up, Otley were able to camp in Blackheath’s half but the Kent side always looked capable of a counter-attacking try.

Ironically, just when the Kent visitors were looking dangerous on halfway, the ball was kicked into Twomey’s hands in the 72nd minute and he sprinted down the right wing.

After beating several opponents, the winger couldn’t quite make the line, and nor could Otley capitalise from the next two phases of play but it didn’t matter ultimately as the home side comfortably held on for victory in what had been a fine contest given the conditions.