Otley 22 Blaydon 25: Late penalties kill off Otley

The visitors were deprived of the ball for most of the first-half but conceded just one try, that a gift and somehow contrived to create two for themselves to lead 12-7 at the break.

Two early second-half tries put Otley back ahead but the yellow carding of scrum-half Tom Rock served to stiffen Blaydon and in his absence they re-took the lead only to fall behind with 13 minutes to go but were able to rely on Otley errors to give them the win.

With seven new faces in the squad Otley settled well, running the ball continuously and after fly-half Will Nelson missed an early penalty they grabbed a try when the Blaydon centres dropped the ball under their posts, centre Joe Barker snapping it up and Nelson converting.

They continued to dominate but failed to make the final breakthrough and were caught out when Blaydon ran a penalty on their 22 to get centre David Clark over in the corner and just before the break lock Chris Wearmouth, backing up a run by Hooker Matt Hall scored for Andrew Baggett to convert.

The scores were level six minutes into the second-half when prop Gareth Denman was driven over and new captain No 7 Jamie Sutton went in four minutes later. Nelson struck an upright with each conversion attempt before Blaydon, down to 14 men, broke through the middle for Baggett to go in under the posts and then convert.

Winger Curtis Wilson showed his pace to chase a kick to the corner and score and Otley appeared to be in control but under pressure they concede two vital penalties.