National League Two North: Preston Grasshoppers 30 Otley 5

OTLEY, with four successive National League Two North defeats since beating Harrogate on December 10, travelled hopefully to Preston Grasshoppers, who were bottom of the table after seven defeats on the trot.

But the conditions were unsuitable to the visitors' style of play, with heavy rain making the artificial surface virtually unplayable and they found the home forwards a handful throughout.

Fly half Lewis Allen was given early chances, with penalties in the second and fifth minutes settling down the Hoppers but, despite running the game, it was 25 minutes before they managed a try.

No 8 Matt Frings broke from a scrum on the Otley line to barge over, with Allen adding the conversion, and a third penalty from him on 36 minutes secured a 16-0 half-time lead.

A bright start from Otley on the resumption promised much as they penned Hoppers in their own 22 for upwards of ten minutes but were unable to find an opening.

The home forwards then began to take over, keeping the ball securely and moving further ahead on 52 minutes when lock Chris Roddy charged over from a rolling maul, Allen converting to put Otley in deep trouble.

And there was no improvement, with replacement Corey Logan adding a third try on 74 minutes, with Allen continuing his good work with the conversion.

The final say, however, went to Otley, replacement Luke Chadwick grounding from a rolling maul for a consolation try on 77 minutes.