Newbury 34 Otley 15

With winger Danny Smith pulling out due to fracturing a finger in training, Otley were glad to see Simon Binns and Rob Whatmuff back in the frame after a month's absence.

This was especially as Paul Williams (broken leg) and Steve Parsons (dislocated shoulder) were already on the sidelines.

Otley also had the added bonus of having prop Justin Wring, on loan from Bristol, at tight head prop but hopes of a second away victory took an early set-back.

Host full back Mal Roberts came up outside winger Liam Gibson to race away, chipping and recovering to go over after just three minutes, fly-half Tin Walsh converting.

Otley had their first chance with a long penalty which was narrowly wide but Binns, snapping up an ankle high pass with aplomb, slipped a pass to Ian Shuttleworth, joining the line from full back.

He sliced through and fast hands had Xavier Andre over in the corner.

He looked to be in for a second try when Shuttleworth, backing up a break by Whatmuff, put him away only for the pass to be called forward.

Otley were making their presence felt but they fell from grace when skipper Gregor Hayter secured the ball at a throw-in 20 metres out and charged over, Walsh adding the conversion.

A penalty from Binns sent them into the break 17-8 down but they were soon further behind when centre Ali James found a gap on half-way.

He cut through a flat-footed defence to give Walsh an easy conversion and five minutes later slotted a drop-goal following a scrum on the Otley 22.

Not disheartened, Otley put immense pressure on the home line and, in desperation, Newbury lost two players to the sin-bin - No 7 Chris Morgan and winger Martin Nutt.

During their absence, Andy Brown slipped over from the base of a scrum and Binns converted.

The chance of a bonus point disappeared when James went in for his second try on 79 minutes, replacement Nick Defty adding the conversion.