Otley safe after 5-try victory at Harrogate

Harrogate ............ 15pts Otley ...................... 35pts

PETER Clegg has watched his side play open rugby all season but it was a pragmatic approach which served his Otley side best against Harrogate – as they secured the victory which ensures they are safe this season, while their Yorkshire rivals fall into deeper trouble.

The visitors ran in five tries, while they also had three disallowed, as they completely outplayed Harrogate – who now sit in the relegation zone.

Jack Blakeney-Edwards scored early for Otley and from there it was one-way traffic, as Tom Hodson, Jason Moss and Thomas O’Donnell all crossed – while there was also a penalty try.

“It was a local derby with a lot riding on it. We needed one point to be safe in the league, and really we were superior throughout the game,” said Otley director of rugby Clegg.

“The lineout and scrum went well and we always looked like we had more firepower than them. They were very one-dimensional and it would not have flattered us if we had scored three more tries, we had a few disallowed too.

“We controlled the controllables, we went out and kept the scoreboard ticking. We went out to score four tries and get one point we needed.

“And we achieved that. We did not think it would come at one stage but to stay up is great. We have some quality backs and we can play some great stuff.

“I think we have been guilty of playing too much at times, we have played very open rugby but we went out and were pragmatic.

“We knew what we needed to do and it is great to have done that. We can now relax next week and have a party.”

Harrogate started well from the start, building up a series of attacks, but they fell behind when BlakeneyEdwards capitalised on a Harrogate error.

The hosts hit back when a penalty try was awarded from a driving maul, as Tipiloma Kivalu was penalised for side entry and sin-binned.

Harrogate were on top, enjoying the extra man advantage, as Keane Naylor burst forward and almost scrambled across the line.

But Otley quickly regained the lead as Hodson crossed in the corner after cutting inside following a series of flat passes.

And Harrogate were left even more deflated after the break as Moss crashed over from a driving maul for their third converted try of the half.

Otley, who needed just one point to confirm their safety, went hard for the crucial fourth try after the break – but they failed to keep their composure and Harrogate closed the gap to six points when Ben Dixon was played into space and he crossed to score.

However, the visitors regained their cool and saw it out late on as they pressurised Harrogate into a penalty try at the scrum before flanker O’Donnell crashed over minutes later.