Victorious Otley almost pay for over ambition (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Victorious Otley almost pay for over ambition

4:30pm Sunday 16th September 2012 in Sport By John Finch

Stockport 33 Otley 39

Once again Otley were in try-scoring mood yesterday and are one of three sides with maximum points in SSE National League Two North.

But they were made to pay for their over-elaboration when, with a 31-7 lead on 45 minutes, they allowed Stockport back into the game, leaking four tries while adding just one of their own.

Fly half Ben Cooper put the visitors ahead on three minutes with a penalty, and centre Tom Rock went in for a try three minutes later, Cooper adding the first of four conversions.

Otley were flying but unfortunately they did not get over the line for a while, and after 25 minutes of near misses a penalty pushed them back and, despite confounding the forward drive, centre Jamie Anthony was put over, fly half Alexander G Zavallis-Roebuck beginning his sizable contribution with the conversion.

Clicking into gear, Otley replied sharply when James Twomey pounced on a loose ball behind the home posts and, following another solid drive, Steve Depledge snuck over, Cooper converting both.

He was back in action soon after the break when replacement hooker Luke Cole scored after another well-constructed maul.

Now trying to be too ambitious, Otley provided openings which were efficiently accepted and the next 20 minutes saw Stockport grab three tries, flankers Nicholas Smith and Kieran Hibbs and Zavallis- Roebuck all crossing, with the latter converting them all.

In between, Otley got flanker Jonathan Mattews over and Cooper kicked a penalty but the home side came back with a second try for Anthony to earn them a couple of points.