Clegg hails spirit after Otley hold off Chester

OTLEY withstood a second half resurgence by Chester to come out comfortable winners in West Yorkshire.

Tries from Joe Rowntree, Paul Petchey, Jack Mackie and Jason Moss was enough for the hosts, who started slowly but grew into the game as it went on.

Matthew Crow and Guy Ford crossed for the visitors, who came up against a solid Otley outfit, despite throwing all they could in search for a way back into the game.

Peter Clegg, Otley's director of rugby, said: “I'm delighted with the team’s performance. There were some great tries.

“There was team spirit here and whilst it is work in progress, the weekday training is beginning to pay off ”.

Chester kicked off and made solid progress into the hosts’ half early on.

After a good line by Joshua Woods, Chester move the ball from one touch line to the other enabling Matthew Crow to go over in the corner for the game’s first try.

Their pressure continued and Liam McGovern slotted a penalty after 10 minutes to stretch the lead to 8-0.

However, this sparked the hosts into life, and Otley’s forwards got into their stride and got off the mark after good interplay involving Nick Coupland, Tom Hodson and Freddie Watson, allowed Joe Rowntree to go over before converted his own try.

And a penalty in front of the posts after 20 minutes by Rowntree gave Otley the lead for the first time in the game.

A Chester mistake at the restart gave the initiative to Otley and an audacious penalty from the half way line by Rowntree went just under the posts.

Chester did not lie down, although Otley’s defence held out. The pressure was relieved when Joe Graham got the ball in his 22 and then out to the side, Paul Petchey running 80 metres to score for the home side.

The visitors then reduced the deficit after Otley were penalised for coming in at the side. However, searing pace from Otley’s backs extended the lead when Jack Mackie went over. a minute before the half ended, with a Liam Gill penalty making the half-time score 24-11.

Otley secured the bonus point after sustained pressure on the Chester line saw Jason Moss push his way over the line.

For the next quarter, Chester remained camped in Otley’s half and, whilst they had their chances, a combination of the visitors’ defence and sloppy mistakes meant they left with nothing.

Otley responded by getting out of their half, and into Chester’s 22.

The visitors then conceded a penalty, which was put into touch, although the attack ended when a rolling maul was held up over the line. Chester rallied once more and came back to test the hosts’ defence, but found it unforgiving.

But Chester’s persistence paid off with a minute to go when they worked their way towards the posts and got the ball out to exOtley player Guy Ford, who went over in the corner.