Harrogate were handicapped by having to make a last minute change when stand-off, David Doherty was urgently summonsed to be with his wife as she delivered a baby daughter. Replacement, Luke Riddell made a sound starting debut though, naturally, the change was disruptive.

Nevertheless, Harrogate started like a house on fire with a charge down putting pressure on the home line. Otley were forced to concede penalties and Danny Matthews’ kick put Harrogate ahead. The pressure continued and an Otley high tackle led to a quickly taken Harrogate penalty. A well timed Riddell pass opened Otley’s defence and Oli Rosillo came into the line at pace to score a converted try and put Harrogate 10 points ahead after 10 minutes.

Otley then counter attacked from deep and a Harrogate offside offence led to an attacking line-out from which hooker, Luke Chadwick burrowed over for a try converted by Tom Hodson. This was soon followed by another Otley penalty and the scores were even. Harrogate’s Sam Brady was then yellow carded for what was adjudged to be an illegal tackle. After 24 minutes, an Otley knock-on led to the game’s first scrum which the 7 man Harrogate pack comfortably won. A touchline dust up followed and Otley flanker, Simon Willet was despatched to the bin. Harrogate’s superior scrummaging won them another penalty but they made an absolute mess of the ensuing attacking line-out Otley were awarded a penalty which Hodson duly kicked to put them ahead.

Mr Davis’s very individual interpretation of the tackle laws then led to Jake Brady joining his brother Sam in the bin. Another period of vigorous play followed and both captains were called together for a general warning. A promising Harrogate backs attack ended with a very forward pass and, soon afterwards, they went offside to give Hodson another successful penalty which made it 16-10 at the interval.

From the restart, a sharp break from Otley scrum-half, Max Johnson launched a series of home attacks which were successfully defended. Harrogate continued to drive Otley backwards at the scrums but, inexplicably, were repeatedly penalised for this and Hodson’s kick made it 19-10. Otley winger, Paul Petchey then made a superb run on the left for an excellent individual converted try and Harrogate seemed to be under the cosh.

However, Harrogate rallied and put together streams of attacking rugby for the rest of the match with sharp breaks from replacement scrum half, Phil Wickham. A well constructed move saw substitute Will Morecombe come into the line and deliver a scoring pass to Jonny Giles. The touchline conversion narrowly failed but, though Harrogate continued to attack Otley’s defence held out.

Otley: Hodson, Wood, Roberts, Mackie, Petchey, White, Johnson, Burkinshaw, Chadwick, Blades, Dunn, Cook, O’Donnell, Willet, Hudson. Subs:- Steele, Kivalu, Stannard, Armitage, Fairclough

Harrogate: Rosillo, Barnard, Naylor, Edwards, Giles, Riddell, Matthews, Ward, Larder, Dennis, J Brady, S Brady,
J Coser, G Coser, Harvey. Subs:- Yorke, Heaton, Morecombe, Wickham, Reaveley

Referee: Ben Davis (RFU)

Match report by Bill Barrack

Click HERE for photos by John Ashton