National Two: Otley take advantage of yellow card as Harrogate’s youngsters sparkle

The visitors went into the game on the back of their one-point victory at home to Caldy and looking to string together some consistency. A blustery and boggy first half saw the hosts leading 3-0 at the mid-way stage as neither side seemed able to adapt to the conditions.

Some sustained pressure after the break allowed winger Gareth Newman to get away for a try which captain Stephen Depledge converted.

A penalty extended the advantage to 10-3 and Preston were reduced to 14 men, which allowed second-row Declan Dunn to burst through for a try from a catch and drive and Depledge’s conversion completed a good day’s work.

A young Harrogate side won 25-23 at Sale.

Lewis Minikin kicked two penalties but Sale’s Liam McGovern notched four in the first half.

McGovern converted a try from Jack Moorhouse early in the second half but Harrogate teenage flanker Guy Coser crashed over after a series of driving mauls with Minikin’s conversion making it 19-13.

McGovern’s penalty soon made it 22-13 but inventive attacking play from Callum Irvine created danger though the next try came from Harrogate’s elder statesman at 27, winger Sam Bottomley.

Sale counters were well contained by Harrogate’s defence including a great try-saving tackle from full-back Charles Morgan.

Harry Barnard was a constant threat and his chip enabled Irvine to score and Minikin converted from the touchline.

Sandal found themselves on the back of successive defeats for the first time this season after losing 29-3 at front-runners Macclesfield.

A yellow card in the early stages for winger Simon Frewin cost Sandal 10 points.

Despite pulling back a penalty by fly-half Greg Wood they were 15-3 down at the break after conceding a second try. The home side’s lead was extended to 22-3 after Elliott Brierly got away for his ninth try in nine games and the hosts sewed up a bonus point in the latter stages.

Huddersfield suffered back-to-back defeats after failing to trouble the scoreboard in the second half of their 32-15 defeat at Sedgley Park Tigers.

Huddersfield produced a promising first half display and trailed by just four points at the break, having used their forwards to full effect to score two tries from catch-and-drives.

Tigers took control and dominated possession to score 16 unanswered points and claim a bonus-point win.