OTLEY were beaten 20-5 at home by Sheffield and may well rue being unable to take points from this game against second-from-bottom visitors who were only a place below the hosts.

However, they failed to get on the referee’s wavelength in a game of many penalties, nearly all of which were in Sheffield’s favour.

This enabled them to constantly clear their lines and set up attacking positions which they used to their advantage.

All this was not apparent at the start, though, with Otley quickly settling.

But on Sheffield’s first visit into the home half on nine minutes, former Cross Green scrum half Steve Depledge stepped up to grab the lead for the visitors with a penalty.

Undeterred, Otley hit back, with full back Tom Hodson running back a kick, good support play then helping scrum half Max Johnson to go over the line, but sadly he also suffered a dislocated elbow when he was hit by a late tackle.

A second penalty from Depledge on 18 minutes did not appear too serious as Otley were still producing chances but then, on 35 minutes, a penalty into the corner set up Sheffield for a drive, with flanker Sean Casey grounding for Depledge to convert for a 13-5 half-time lead.

The second period was a disappointment for the home supporters, with Otley unable to control the forward play but they continued to create, three times getting to the line but being denied a score.

Then, on 48 minutes, successive penalties secured a five-metre line-out for the visitors.

Otley were being put under intense pressure, and the referee eventually awarded a penalty try to put the home side well out of contention.

JOHN FINCH