North Walsham 24 Otley 22

Otley came within a whisker of saving this fourth-round EDF Energy National Trophy tie.

The conversion attempt of a last-minute try just sailed wide and it would have been just reward for a fine effort from a much-changed side who, although suffering against a big set of forwards, produced three first-class tries.

With three making their debuts, plus four more new boys on the bench, and winger Xavier Andre appearing as breakaway forward, it was a completely new combination that travelled down to Norfolk to take on National League Three South opponents North Walsham.

They have been performing well over the past few seasons, narrowly losing out on promotion last year when going down to Nuneaton in the play-off by five penalties to three.

Alastair Monks, who has turned in some sound performances either at fly half or full back, captained Otley with style and his three-quarters backed him up well, but the big home forwards, around whom their past success have been built, were just too powerful.

Despite conceding many pen-alties and having two players yellow-carded, they were able to keep Otley at arms length. Phil Howell, deputising at full back while Owen Edwards was having treatment for a blood injury, put Otley in front in the ninth minute as the visitors pressed from the start.

But the home forwards beg-an to grind their way upfield, where fly half Aiden McNulty missed a chance to equalise.

However, they took the lead when second-row Sam Herr-ington broke from a driving maul to go over, and five minutes later scrum half Arthur Delport followed a rolling maul before taking over to slip through the cover, McNulty converting to give North Walsham a 12-3 lead.

Nevertheless, two superb tries had Otley in the lead at half-time. Andy Brown put a penalty deep into the home 22 and when the drive for the line was held the ball was swung wide out to left winger Michael Raikes, who turned it back inside for centre Stephen Pike to go in near the posts.

Then a turnover in their 22 as the visitors pressed allowed Otley to run the ball and Ed-wards, given possession on half way, raced away to the posts, Brown converting both.

But the home pack began to take control in the second half. A converted penalty try and a touch down for full back Adam Cowan had them looking comfortable until Monks put sub centre James Henry over.