Stourbridge 23 Otley 37

A POWERFUL display saw Otley secure full points at a ground that had previously been unproductive for them.

After a hard first-half battle into a strong wind their forwards took control and their speedy backs, allied to a seven out of eight success rate of kicks by Stephen Depledge , earned the win.

There were, however, draw backs to their day, beginning four minutes before half-time when fly-half Ben Fairclough was injured and there was a 25 minutes break while an ambulance was summoned after he swallowed his gum shield, causing serious breathing problems.

He was allowed home later but the journey home wasn't without incident. The team bus developed an electrical fault and a substitute had to be called for which meant they didn't get home until after midnight.

There was no delay in their first score, a great drive from an early line-out, Jack Mackie cutting through to feed Harry Hudson who outpaced the defence to go in at the corner inside two minutes. Depledge beginning his success with his boot.

Ten minutes later they were behind, Stourbridge, making full use of the wind, scored a penalty through full-back James Hearn who then went over wide out and on 20 minutes converted a try from hooker Dale Garner, diving over after a number of attacking phases on the Otley line.

An eight-point half-time deficit was quickly reduced, Depledge and Mackie combining to put Arnie Ellison away to make it to the corner from the re-start for Depledge to convert.

The scrum half added a penalty nine minutes later and he was back in demand when Hudson once more shook off two tacklers to claim his second try.

The home side got back into it with a break from centre Stefan Shillingford to give No 8 Drew Harper a run in but they lost ground with two more Depledge penalties.

A penalty from fly-half Gary Dipple took Stourbridge to within a score but a grandstand finish by the Otley pack saw them destroy the opposition, successive penalties on the home 5m line gaining a penalty try.