Nuneaton 20, Otley 5

Player-coach Tom Rock is perplexed by Otley's inability to perform away from Cross Green.

Once again they started confidently in yesterday's SSE National League Two North clash but failed to consolidate before losing all direction and shape to capitulate ignominiously.

With five changes, hopes were high and they set off with a bang, the kick-off safely being collected and kicked back.

The recipient was tackled strongly enough to lose possession and the ball was retrieved and moved swiftly and accurately down the line, winger Tom Harris making ground before slipping an inside pass to full back Ollie Denton coming up at speed, all within a minute.

The conversion was missed, as was a penalty under the posts when Nuneaton strayed offside at a five-metre line-out, and as further opportunities were spurned Otley's malaise became more apparent.

Getting over the early setback, Nuneaton began to show a little confidence as their forwards started to operate, and on 19 minutes fly half Lee Chapman kicked a penalty.

However, good defensive play from Otley kept them at bay, even when hooker Ben Steele was in the sin bin for the last ten minutes of the first half.

Having seen their team weather that storm, the Otley supporters were expecting them to thrive but they slipped back into their old habits and when losing the ball at a set scrum they could only stand and watch as centre Elliott Brown strolled over, Chapman adding the conversion.

It was not a pretty spectacle as both sides flattered to deceive but it was Nuneaton, on 78 minutes, by then choking the life out of Otley, who scored when flanker Aaron Turner was able to walk in under the posts, Chapman making it a sound if undistinguished home win.