National Two North: Otley 28 Preston Grasshoppers 25

OTLEY earned another last gasp win in their second home game of the season.

They suffered an early setback when Jack Scott-Paul had to come off injured after just two minutes, bringing on Sam Rowntree.

Although Otley scored first with a breakaway try by man of the match Oli Goss, which Joe Rowntree converted, the hosts were on the back foot for most of the first half.

Preston reduced the deficit when they went right to left and Luke Proctor scored. They took the lead when Otley were offside in their own 22, Tom Davidson converting both.

Continuing to pressurise, Preston were bundled into touch just before the line and then snaffled the line-out with Paul Millea scoring.

Tyler Spence was through for a 35-metre sprint, but was pulled back after Davidson was fouled by Ben Steele, who was yellow carded.

Preston got their third after a penalty into the corner, Oliver Trippier slipping under the defence to score which Davidson converted.

Early in the second half, Preston continued to attack the Otley line, moving the ball across the pitch with Conor Trueman scoring their fourth in the corner.

Two tries from inside Otley’s half brought them back into contention, Joe Graham making the initial break which was then taken up by Steele and finally by Paul Petchey who scored.

Five minutes later, Goss was the provider putting Ben Magee through to score. Joe Rowntree converted both.

Both sides had opportunities to score in open play, most notably Otley in the clubhouse corner. But a scrum was awarded after a desperate knock-on close to the line.

Preston nearly scored towards the end, but Otley were able to release the choke and work up their way up the pitch, helped by a penalty, to set up the dramatic finish.

Otley had three penalties on Preston’s five-metre line which they put into the corner. Each time when the pack tried to muscle their way towards the line, Preston pulled the maul down earning a yellow card each time.

In the end, the referee awarded Otley a penalty try to give the home side a hard-fought victory.