National League Two North: Otley 27 Tynedale 38

ON A day when cheques of £2,307.50 were handed over to both the Teenage Cancer Trust and Prince Henry's Grammar School at a pre-match luncheon from money raised from the Boxing Day match at Cross Green, Otley came mighty close to making it a perfect day by defeating third-placed Tynedale.

The 12th-placed hosts began slowly, conceding two converted tries inside ten minutes to trail 14-0 and they were 26-10 behind at half-time, but they were so much in charge in the second half that the match came down to fine margins.

"Tynedale are a very good side and you can't give them a head start like we did, but I was proud of the character that the lads showed in the second half," said head coach Charlie Maunder.

With five minutes to go, Otley's dominance in the scrum earned them a penalty try to put them only 31-27 behind but they were unlucky when 14-man Tynedale seemed to get away with a knock-on in grounding the ball for their fifth try in the 79th minute.

That was not only the clincher in terms of the league points but also denied the home side a losing bonus point.

Maunder added: "We could have got more from our dominance in the scrum, but the referees are different (in their interpretation) every week.

"Also you have to take your chances at this level, although we were unlucky with their last try with the touch judge's ruling when you could see from as far away as the Chevin that the Tynedale player hadn't grounded the ball.

"However, we challenged Tynedale, and we have got six points from the last three matches (they also beat Hinckley away and got a losing bonus point at Sedgley Park) when many people expected us to get nothing, and we hope to put in another good performance next week at home to South Leicester."

Otley were soon on the back foot on a pitch that had recovered remarkably well from the recent snow.

Tynedale full back James Spencer was on the scoresheet as early as the third minute and was followed over the line five minutes later by Guy Pike, after a break by scrum half Matthew Outson, with Spencer adding both conversions.

Only then did Otley mount concerted pressure, winning successive penalties and making the visitors pay.

Scrum half Joe Rowntree kicked the second penalty into the right-hand corner, and the line-out was won before the attack moved left for lock Declan Dunn to score in the 13th minute after a deft Brett Mitchell pass.

Rowntree's conversion meant that the deficit was halved, and Tynedale lost Outson with an ankle injury in the 23rd minute, sending on David Cook.

Otley left winger Alexander Beaumont was heavily involved at this stage and almost cut through the middle only for referee Harry Walbaum to rule that a pass was forward.

Tynedale's slick backs then crafted a third try in the 27th minute, with centre Tim Bramwell, who got the touch down, twice being involved, Spencer's accurate conversion putting the north-easterners 21-7 to the good.

Rowntree slotted a 32nd-minute penalty, but Tynedale secured the bonus point for their fourth try in the 34th minute, with Spencer getting his second after Pike had again made good ground.

Down by 16 points, Otley brought on prop Jason Moss for Laurence Sanderson at half-time, and the momentum slowly changed.

The home side didn't make a clean break in the second half until Mike Coady went through in the 48th minute, but that was the prelude to Otley dominance.

Tom O'Donnell bagged a try three minutes later to cap some intense pressure, and most of the hosts' chances then seemed to fall to right winger Paul Petchey.

The former Ilkley three-quarter bumped off one defender but knocked on deep in the Tynedale 22 when confronted by another, and a minute later, put away by a pass out of the back door by full back Tom Hodson, went even closer, only to be denied by desperate defence near the try-line flag.

It was all Otley, but then Hodson's pass from the right touchline in front of the stand went to no-one, and they never cleared their lines before Bramwell went over for his double in the 62nd minute.

Spencer's conversion made it 31-15 but Petchey threatened again before Otley's distinct edge in the scrum had the promotion-chasing visitors worried.

Dunn pounced on a loose ball for a pushover try in the 71st minute, with Rowntree converting.

Tynedale then had lock Jonathan Cousin sin-binned for a technical offence three minutes later, and Otley were awarded a penalty try in the 75th minute.

Now trailing by only four points, they were undone by Tynedale's fifth try a minute from time, with Bramwell completing his hat-trick on a ruling from touch judge Andrew Ashwell.

That took the wind out of Otley's sails but it had still been a generally positive display by them on a day when it was also announced that they were making progress off the field courtesy of a new secretary, treasurer, book-keeper and several other new committee members.