No stopping Otley as Hodgson try helps Huddersfield bounce back

Otley claimed their third successive victory with a 15-10 home win over Broad Street in heavy conditions at Cross Green.

Persistent rain and soft ground meant the hard work was done in the forwards and it was through them that the first try arrived.

Second-row Declan Dunn, fresh from scoring his first National Two North try at Preston, crashed over for the only score of the first half. Otley added to their lead with a penalty from scrum-half and captain Stephen Depledge, but Broad Street responded with a try.

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Despite the visitors’ efforts, however, they were undone by the decisive moment of the game when Otley’s dominance saw them awarded a penalty try converted by Depledge.

A second-half comeback helped Huddersfield bounce back from successive defeats with a 23-14 home win over Chester.

By the mid-way stage, it seemed Huddersfield were heading for another defeat. At 11-6 down, they needed a quick response and turned to the forwards in an attempt to secure good ball in terrible conditions.

Having pulled back a try they went ahead with a penalty and the game was close until the closing stages when full-back Elliott Hodgson broke through for a converted try.

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A dour display saw Sandal cling on for a 6-3 victory in difficult conditions at home to Caldy. The hosts had taken a 6-0 lead with a penalty and a drop-goal by fly-half Greg Wood which was halved by Jack Lavin’s penalty.

The home side spent the majority of the second half camped in their own 22, repelling wave after wave of Caldy attacks, as the pitch deteriorated.

Caldy spurned the opportunity of a late penalty as they chased a winning try.

A late penalty earned Harrogate a bonus point in a 22-17 home defeat to Macclesfield.

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Both teams contrived to produce an entertaining game in appalling conditions. Having given away a soft opening try in the first minute – Rhodri Mayor running through for Lewis Barker to convert – Harrogate had to play catch up rugby for most of the game.

Centre Elliott Brierley’s try extended the lead but Callum Irvine followed up his own attacking chip to score in the corner and Lewis Minikin’s touchline conversion made it 12-7 at the break.

The second half opened with dominant Harrogate forward play and Charles Morgan scored his maiden Harrogate try and the conversion put them 14-12 ahead.

Macclesfield set up a series of driving mauls and were awarded a penalty try. Barker’s penalty made it 22-14 before Minikin hit the target for the hosts.