Otley 34Huddersfield 14

WITH National League Two North clubs not entering the Yorkshire Cup until the quarter-final stage, Otley were given a testing home draw against Huddersfield.

The latter side had come through the first round 37-9 over once-mighty Sheffield and followed that with a 41-15 win over Doncaster Phoenix.

Sitting atop National League Three North, having won all 20 games and gaining 14 four-try bonus points while showing a plus 707 points, they are having a fine season as they bid to make a quick return to the fourth tier.

They did, however, find it difficult to express themselves, suffering in the set-piece and finding their every move covered, although they did hold the lead for six minutes in the first half.

Otley made the first move with an eighth-minute penalty by full back Tom Hodson but a well constructed approach then led to former Bradford & Bingley scrum half Dan Jeffrey scoring for Huddersfield, which fly half Chris Bell converted.

This pleased the visitors’ strong following but the Otley forwards went steadily through their paces and saw an opportunity when a penalty was kicked into the corner.

Huddersfield were under pressure and three penalties later a penalty try was awarded, with Hodson adding the conversion. Four minutes later, the hosts showed their power at a scrum 40 metres out, driving their opponents backwards at pace.

The ball was then releasing for Jack Mackie to slice through before then slipping a neat inside pass to fellow centre Mike Coady, who wrong-footed the defence to go over, with Hodson again converting.

A kick straight into touch gave Huddersfield a line-out deep in Otley territory, however, and centre Tom Owen, given quick ball, cut through, riding a tackle to score, Bell’s conversion making the interval score 17-14 to Otley.

Winning a scrum on halfway, Otley battled to the line early in the second half, gaining another scrum before the ball was moved quickly right and then returned left for winger Alex Beaumont to force his way over.

Twenty minutes later, he added a second try from a similar scenario as Otley defied the conditions.

A fifth try came via replacement winger Paul Petchey, who outstripped the defence with his speed, Hodson again converting to seal victory.

l Yorkshire Carnegie Academy’s Ollie Fox has been named in the England under-18 squad to face France on Sunday and Scotland a week on Sunday.

Scrum half Fox is on dual registration with National League Three North Sandal.