Otley 57, Pontefract 7

OTLEY produced a devastating spell of 15-man rugby in the first-half to run out easy winners in this Yoprkshire Cup game. They took the lead in the opening minutes when the ball was driven on before quick han-dling got the ball to Leroy Rivett who raced over.

When the visitors infringed the ball was put into the corner and a catch and drive saw Duncan Sayers drive over. Following a good interchange in the backs Alistair Monks joined the line at pace to go over.

Otley continued to dominate and a chip ahead bounced kindly and James Henry gathered to go over.

The next try had an element of farce when the visitors tried to work in a back row move and only succeeded in passing the ball to Chris Kendra who dived over.

In the next move slick handling got the ball to Leroy Rivett who made ground and when stopped he managed to pop the ball up to the supporting Matthew Wright who powered over to make it 40-0 at half-time.

On the re-start Rivett made a break before finding Alistair Monks in support and he raced over for a superb try.

Otley made a number of changes and they lost their momentum for a time but midway through the half won a scrum and Stewart Wilson made a blindside break before linking with Phil Howell, who put Alistair Monks over for his hat-trick.

To their credit Pontefract were making a contribution to an entertaining game with some good moves and they produced great inter-passing to put their winger away and he beat the cover to go in under the posts.

Matthew Wright was given ten minutes in the sin-bin for dissent but Otley had the last word when a great drive by the pack saw Chris Birchall go over in the corner to complete a good team performance. Howell kicked well out of hand as well as kicking six conversions. The win set up Otley for a quarter-final clash with Harrogate on Tuesday night.

Otley won 26-5 with their forwards too strong for Harrogate who ran out of steam after being only 6-5 down.

Otley's try scorers were Clark, Darby and Wright

Otley Tongans 5

Roundhegians 12

TONGANS succumbed to the greater fire power of the Roundhegians' pack when they failed to reach the final of the Aire Wharfe Cup. They made a bright start and on 15 minutes Chris Stott made a break to feed Tim Westlake-Bryant who powered over in the corner. He was nearly over again but was tackled short of the line.

There were already signs that the visitors' pack was getting the upper hand and a chip through by the scrum half saw the winger claim the touch-down but there was doubt as to whether he got downward pressure.

A superb conversion from the touchline gave Roundhegians a 7-5 half-time lead.

The second-half became a war of attrition with the Roundhegians' pack dominating and their fly half kicking tactically to keep Otley pinned down. There was no further score until the final minute of injury time when their fly half ran the ball to slice through for the clinching score.

Otley Saracens 20

Liverpool St Helens 22

SARACENS took the field against Saints with a much changed side, again taking the opportunity to give some of their Academy players senior experience. Phil Howell gave them an early lead with a penalty.

Saints hit back showing they intended to run the ball in the perfect conditions and when a tackle was missed in midfield their centre went through to score.

Keeping up the pressure the right winger fielded a clearing kick and ran it back before cutting inside to go over under the posts.

Saracens were looking shaky but when the Saints' fly half tried a long miss-pass Chris Majipinto intercepted and showed a clean pair of heels to score and reduce the deficit.

Spurred by this success Otley won the next line-out to spin the ball wide and James Henry came on the angle to power through, Howell converting.

In the final minute Otley were penalised at the breakdown and the Saints' fly half kicked the penalty to make it 15-15 at half-time.

Midway through the half a chip ahead bounced kindly for the following player and he linked with the support for a good try.

Saracens raised their game in the

closing stages building pressure before Matthew Wright drove over only for it to be disallowed.

Otley won a line-out to set up a rolling maul before Ben Steel went over.

When Otley ran out of replacements in the second-half Saracens coach Andy Hargreaves put in a cameo performance to add to his record of over 500 games.