Otley hold off a Blues fightback

A RESTRUCTURED Otley turned on the power and pace to beat Macclesfield for a muchneeded win with a performance they have promised but, of late, failed to produce although they had to dig deep after letting slip a 15point lead.

They made an aggressive start, pegging back their visitors with fly-half Ben Smith easing them ahead with a penalty on ten minutes, adding a try when hooker Joe Graham broke from a drive to cross, Smith converting.

Looking ever stronger a turnover in their 22 saw the ball out to winger Nazir Karim who burst through. The pressure was maintained but not the completion, a ball dropped on the line and final passes going awry and they were made to pay when, on 33 minutes the visitors broke loose, excellent handling taking them to the Otley line where prop Tom Mantell crashed over. Centre Lewis Barker converted and they were straight back, winger Myles Hall racing in at the corner.

The three-point halftime deficit was cleared within two minutes, Barker touching down but the lead was shortlived, Smith replying with a 30-metre penalty.

Both sides had chances to win it, Otley taking theirs when Alex Beaumont went over from a scrum.