Otley 51 Birmingham & Solihull 15

Although starting well, monopolising the line-out and looking more efficient in the loose, Otley never suggested such a margin of victory as both sides battled out a hard-fought first half.

The visitors had the first opportunity to take the lead, scrum half Jack Jolly going wide with a 40-metre penalty chance.

Ben Cooper had success on 16 minutes from half that distance and a well-organised rolling maul took play to the line where Stephen Depledge wriggled over.

This evoked a sharp reply. James Oliver, steaming up the middle from full back, found a way through to chip, regather and race in, Jolly adding the conversion.

Three minutes later fly half Lee Chapman struck a 38-metre drop-goal to give Birmingham & Solihull a surprise lead.

This was not a true reflection of play and, just before the break, Jack Mackie put matters right with a try, Cooper kicking the first of five conversions.

Two minutes after the re-start, Otley’s forwards rolled Birmingham back to their 22, where Depledge dodged and sprinted his way over.

Hooker Ben Spokes kept his side in touch with a try but a 55th-minute penalty from Cooper set Otley alight.

James Twomey came to the fore with two spectacular tries.

First, Mackie made the break and chipped ahead for the winger to collect and gallop in.

Then, ten minutes later, Twomey stretched to make an interception in his own 22 and avoid all contact as he galloped to the posts.

Replacement hooker Luke Cole added a sixth try and just before the end Toby Williams put the icing on the cake, bursting through from a lineout, the conversion edging Otley past the half-century mark.

Victory moved the Cross Greeners up one place to fifth spot in the table.

They leap-frogged Sheffield Tigers, who went down 40-31 at Hull.