Otley 15

Wharfedale 14

Otley hung on to notch victory in this derby yesterday at a cold Cross Green.

But the match, watched by about 350, inevitably lacked the passion and, largely, the personnel that was a feature of last season's two clashes in National League One.

Wharfedale won both contests - 17-9 at Cross Green and 33-8 at Grassington - but couldn't prevent Otley winning the title.

And the way the last 20 minutes went yesterday it looked as if the Dalesmen would triumph again as they recovered from 15-3 down.

But that didn't surprise experienced Otley flanker Phil Griffin, who said afterwards: "We had mostly young lads or, like me, players on the comeback trail."

Added the 28-year-old: "In the first half we were excellent. We had good pressure and retained the ball well. But in the second half Wharfedale got it together, we became a bit complacent and they came right back into it.

"It was a match that I and one or two others on our side needed after suffering injuries, but it wasn't the greatest of spectacles."

It was only Griffin's second match since he broke a rib in the Tetley's Bitter Cup defeat at Leicester on November 4 - he also played last Saturday for Otley's second strings against Old Otliensians.

And he admitted: "My rib was fine, and I got more involved than I did on Saturday. Now I just hope I am included in the squad for Saturday's National League One home match against Leeds."

After seven straight league or cup defeats, albeit three narrowly, that is a contest Otley desperately need to win.

They went behind yesterday to a seventh-minute penalty by full back Carl Burnett, fly half Dan Clappison (pictured) levelling matters three minutes later with a penalty of his own.

Both sides then had chances to score before Otley No 8 Ian Spence dummied outside and went himself to cross in the left corner in the 20th minute.

Otley then held sway up to half-time and could have increased their lead, but full back Ryan Duckett couldn't make the line following a break by scrum half Peter Wright, and Wharfedale fly half Daniel Harrison made a crucial interception from another dangerous raid, running the ball to the sanctuary of touch.

Clappison also missed a penalty, and Wharfedale lock Rob Burnett was yellow-carded before the interval.

Otley replaced Clappison with Simon Hawkins at half-time, and the replacement fly half started the move which came close to bringing the home side their second try early in the second half.

He flicked the ball back to Bradford Bulls marketing employee Duckett, who ran superbly out of defence and found William Darby, but the left winger was snuffed out by the covering Dalesmen's defence.

However, a Hawkins break in the 49th minute did unlock the visiting defence, erratic centre Guy Hope scoring, Hawkins' conversion making it 15-3.

Otley then brought on joint leading try-scorer Mark Kirkby for Darby, but his only running chances came close to the final whistle when Otley were mostly engaged in defence.

Wharfedale flanker Sam Allen went over on the right in the 56th minute to make it 15-8, and six minutes later Otley brought on experienced back-row player Neil Hargreaves in place of Spence.

In the 65th minute, Otley were offside, Carl Burnett's penalty putting Wharfedale right back in the contest at 15-11.

Duckett then sliced a clearing kick, giving Wharfedale a prime attacking position, and Carl Burnett landed his third penalty in the 72nd minute to complete the scoring.