Zebras toppled by Johnson’s crossing

Hull ...................... 20pts Otley .................... 14pts

HULL coach Gary Pearce believes his side’s narrow victory over Otley now has them looking higher up the table, rather than over their shoulder.

Mike Adlard and Steve Johnson both scored to secure an important win over the struggling visitors, who nevertheless still lie well clear of the relegation zone.

Joe Graham scored for Otley but it wasn’t enough to prevent Pearce’s side clinching their fourth league win in a row.

And the Hull boss believes the result now leaves his team well-placed to push on in the division.

“This win puts us in a very good position to press on and consolidate our status as a Division 2 side,” he said.

“Otley are a good side and it says a lot about this league that they are now in a relegation fight that we have had to consider ourselves, but we are now looking at a mid-table or top- half finish.''

Hull knew it would be a tough game and it took Otley just 11 minutes to get their noses in front, when centre Gavin Stead converted two penalties from long range to put his side 6-0 ahead.

Hull's response was not long in coming and a break from well inside their own half saw winger Mike Adlard released to race clear and touch down under the posts.

And that left fly-half Simon Humbserstone with an easy conversion after just 13 minutes, in what had been a whirlwind start to the compelling contest.

Both sets of forwards then battled hard to gain the upper hand but defences held firm and the score-line remained unchanged until half-time, with the hosts leading by a solitary point going into the interval.

Hull had the better of the conditions as the second half begun and it was Humberstone who eased them further ahead with a penalty after 57 minutes.

However, Hull were rocked when Otley's substitute forward Joe Graham caitalised on some good work by his pack when he scored a try.

And that left the score at 11-10 to the vistors heading into the scintilating finale at LTS Leisure Ferens Ground.

Humberstone scored a 67th minute penalty to put Hull back in front.

And with just 13 minutes left on the clock their supporters must have been wondering if they could produce another late surge as they have done on so many occasions throughout this season.

It took another nine minutes for Hull to effectively put the game out of reach.

They engineered a lineout in the Otley 22 and when Steven Johnson joined the ensuing maul, the pack surged towards the line and the centre rolled away to plunge over the line with ease.

Humberstone's conversion then saw Hull ahead by a comfortable margin of 20-11.

A late Ben Smith penalty saw Otley achieve a deserved bonus point at the end of a very close game in which Hull had a slight edge running out deserved winners.

And it was a result that left Pearce in jubilant spirits, as his side continued their march up the table with another imperious performance to now look up the table, not down it.