Blackheath 32 Otley 5: Otley in tough survival fight

With six regulars unavailable, Otley struggled to contain Blackheath's hostile opening spell, being penned in their own half for most of the first quarter.

They conceded a penalty, which No 10 Paul Humphries kicked after three minutes, and a penalty try 12 minutes later when pushed back at a five-metre scrum, Humphries converting.

Settling down, Otley got into the game but on 23 minutes a penalty for a high tackle set up a close-in lineout from which No 7 Dave Allen was driven over.

Just before the break, winger Dan Caprice found a way through with a mazy run from half-way, Humphries's conversion securing a 22-0 half-time lead.

This was increased four minutes after the re-start when Allen again grounded, from a five-metre scrum, but it signalled an improvement in Otley's play and for the first time Blackheath were under pressure, losing re-placement hooker Jack Knight through a yellow card.

In his absence, scrum-half Stephen Depledge crossed down the blind-side.

This was the extent of Otley's scoring and, when short of numbers after the sin-binning of prop Gareth Denman, they were unable to prevent replacement lock Gavin Wallis's run-in try at the corner.

Otley's next two games are against fellow strugglers Manchester at home and Sedgley Park away.