Preston Grasshoppers A 5

Otley Saracens 48

SARACENS travelled to Lightfoot Lane and duly completed the double over Grasshoppers with a competent performance in tricky conditions. They made a lively start and when they took a ball against the head quick handling saw Matthew Walker race over in the corner.

Saracens were getting into their stride and Leon Clark made a good run before releasing and Ian Spence took the ball to power over. Keeping up the pressure Otley won a line-out to drive the ball on and with Ian Judson operating as dummy runner Jim Davis took the ball at pace to go over. James Henry converted to make it 17-0 at half-time.

Saracens moved the ball with confidence on the re-start and a good move released Matthew Walker, who used his pace to score under the posts, Henry converting. Preston were defending desperately and when they were penalised Otley opted for a scrum and Ian Spence picked up at No 8 to drive over, Henry adding the conversion.

Saracens won the ball from the re-start and Jim Davis made a break on his own 22 before finding Ian Spence, who released Leon Clark on half-way and he duly scored under the posts, but Henry missed the conversion.

Hoppers eventually hit back and pressure produced a try. Saracens then brought on replacements Mike Gillson, Matty Birch and Steve Hudson for Steve Rice, Richard Leighton and Scott Connor. Saracens quickly scored again when Alistair Campbell joined the line from full-back to go over and was then replaced by Will Foster. In the dying minutes Sam Gardner made ground before releasing and from the breakdown Matty Birch made a sniping run and Matthew Wright was up on his inside to go over under the posts, Henry tacking on the conversion.

There was joy in the dressing room when the result from Claro Road came through and Wharfedale's defeat meant Saracens were top of the second team championship table.

THE Tongans game at Preston was cancelled as the Preston Reserve pitches were waterlogged.

Otley Viscounts 12

Old Brodleians 17

WHEN their original opponents cancelled, Viscounts made a Pool fixture with Old Brods and an entertaining game resulted. Brods were late arrivals but this seemed to affect Viscounts more than the visitors, who raced into a 14-0 lead with two converted tries.

Brods were a young side with plenty of pace so Viscounts had to tighten the game up and this paid off when Jamie Chappell came out of a maul to drive over and add the conversion. Brods stretched the lead with a penalty but the Viscount's pack went all out for the winning score but Brods held out.

Bradford & Bingley 0

Otley U-12s 7

THIS was a close and exciting game as the score suggests. The Otley forwards dominated throughout and were particularly strong in the scrums, driving Bees back in several occasions, but they were unable to convert the pressure into points.

Prop Charles Middleton worked hard throughout and made a number of powerful runs. This secured good possession for the backs who were keen to pass and run, releasing winger Crian Purvis, whose searing pace often took him close.

A period of sustained pressure in the five-metre zone failed to produce a score but Otley surged back as Luke Walton broke free and fed Eddie McKee. He had an outstanding game using and moving the ball with great skill and he flicked on to give Simon Jones room for a strong run and a well-taken try. Edward Goodwill converted.

Jones made several more strong runs from the centre to earn the Man-of-the-Match award. McKee also put prop Sam Pickering over just before half-time but the ball was spilled.

In the second-half Bees launched a spirited comeback but Otley continued to keep the lion's share of possession. Second-rows Joe Robinson and Joshua Finlay worked relentlessly in the loose, making some telling runs and Otley were stopped just short three or four times.

The closest they came to scoring again was when hooker Edward Goodwill surged over from a maul but former team mate Matthew Kennedy got his body underneath to deny Otley again.

OTLEY (home to Moseley, meet at 1.45 pm for 3 pm kick-off): I Shuttleworth; W Darby, R Whatmuff, P Greaves, M Kirkby; S Binns, A Brown; A Pogson, D Sayers, D Hall, I Carroll, P Curtis, P Williams, N Bland, P Griffin. Repl. P Wright, S Smith, S Gardner, S Rice, Hapafila Liu, J Tiffany, A Boyle.

Saracens (home to Sedgeley Park, meet at 2 pm for 3 pm kick-off): R Duckett; R Leighton, A Campbell, J Davis, M Walker; J Henry, M Birch; I Judson, M Allewell, C Booth, S Hudson, N Brook, S Connor, M Wright, I Spence. Repl. L Clarke, T Foster, M Gillson.

Tongans (for match to be arranged) from: S Barton, G Guyers, A Easton, A Keeler, A Midgeley, C Jackson, W Foster, S Kershaw, C Minchella, D Green, M Keeler, N Girling, T Grubb, J Vyvyan, S Oliver, G Mitchell.

Viscounts, for match to be arranged. Team to be notified by Jamie Chappell.

OTLIENSIANS (home to Roundhegians, meet at 1.30 pm for 3 pm kick-off): S Hawkins; M Tenniswood, A Hayward, M Dykes, A Fawell; I Chaplin, P Gillson; M Payne, A Walton, P Bonner, R Smith, R Smith, D Smith, B Tenniswood, R Arbuckle. Repl. R Paley, S Coates, D Roberts.

Seconds (at Roundhegians, meet at the Maypole at 1 pm): A Cooper; S Lofthouse, A Collins, J Pinguenet, T Butcher; S Hammond, S Dykes; C Myers, R Whitworth, S Wilson, C Hayward, M Copping, J Lawson, A Bower, S Wilson. Repl. P Tempest, T Hudson, I McCormack.