Otley 17, Preston Grasshoppers 20 Otley looked to be on their way to a home victory but a mistake proved costly as Preston – who included former St Helens rugby league star Sean Long in their ranks – snatched the spoils.

The hosts were playing well and had deservedly retaken the lead on 68 minutes by way of a well-struck penalty from Chris Georgiou. However, when the re-start was kicked to the corner, Otley were guilty of taking their eye off the ball and it was carelessly knocked on.

Preston, who had already scored their two tries from that distance, seized on this unexpected opportunity.

Their drive was contained and when the visitors opened up to get one man over, he was held up. However, from the scrum, the ball went down the line for full back Matt Hughes to come up on the outside and touch down.

It had looked a different story at the start when Preston were denied any sight of the ball for the first four minutes.

In that time, Georgiou had been put over in the corner and converted but the equaliser came when Otley were pushed back to their line via a penalty and, eventually, No 8 Dominic Moon was driven over. Former rugby league fly half Graham Holroyd converted.

Long, who took over the kicking while Holroyd was recovering from a heavy tackle, then put Preston ahead with a penalty.

Grasshoppers had prop Richard Morton yellow-carded as home fly half Tom Rock cut in at the posts to cross and Georgiou converted, giving Otley a half-time lead.

Moon went over again 22 minutes into the second half before the game finished in disappointing fashion for the Cross Greeners.