National League Two North: Otley 26 Harrogate 15

THERE was a good turnout for this eventful derby, with the visitors badly in need of points to lift them up the league while Otley were bent on retaining their perfect home record.

With their skipper Freddie Watson out with a broken thumb, Otley suffered a further setback when scrum half Max Johnson pulled out with an ankle injury, but Richard Bannister filled his spot admirably.

Harrogate built their approach work around their forwards, who gave Otley a hard time, but, after a good start, they were stretched.

Full back Tom Hodson, continuing his good form, made them pay for their indiscretions, landing four superb penalties in succession to lay the platform for victory.

However, Otley were behind inside three minutes, a penalty at kick-off putting Harrogate on the attack, and a second was duly converted by scrum half Dan Matthews.

It was a penalty which set up the visitors with a close-in line-out which they duly won, the ball moving quickly down the line for left winger Oliver Rosillo to cross in the corner, Matthews converting.

Settling at last, Otley made a move, Hodson running back a Harrogate kick and forcing a five-metre line-out, where hooker Luke Chadwick was driven over, Hodson converting.

As the tension rose, there were two yellow cards for Harrogate and one for Otley, but Hodson hit glorious penalties on 17, 31, 40 and 60 minutes, and when centre Henry Roberts raced in from 55 metres out, he also added the conversion.

Coming to life in the final minutes, Harrogate scored a try through winger Jonathan Giles but they failed to gather any bonus points.