Tynedale 25 Otley 18: Lineout failings prove costly

Tynedale's superiority in the forwards and their own insecure lineout work meant Otley saw little of the ball and were unable to test the opposition in their usual manner.

They played throughout on the back foot and were unable to release their backs with any regularity but the defence was terrific, conceding just three tries, one while 17th-minute replacement prop Jason Moss was in the sin-bin.

An early opportunity went begging when Otley lost a close-in lineout and they were put under pressure, unable to satisfy the referee with their scrimmaging but they took the lead when scrum-half Stephen Depledge intercepted to race 65 metres to the posts for fly-half Will Nelson to convert.

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A penalty for the front-row not binding had them defending a five-metre lineout and, though the drive was held, a scrum was conceded from which scrum-half Matt Outson broke blind to slip the ball back inside to No 6 Andrew Murray to score and fly-half Gavin Beasley converted.

Otley struck back, surprising Tynedale by driving over from a lineout, captain and No 7 Jamie Sutton grounding.

Consecutive penalties had Otley back on their line and, as they continued to infringe, the referee awarded a penalty try which Beasley converted to take the lead on 33 minutes.

The last play of the first half saw Otley short of numbers and lock Matt Shields went in at the corner.

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It was a lacklustre second-half, Tynedale having all the possession but no enterprise, and became a tale of penalties.

One each had Otley within a bonus point until Beasley had success on 79 minutes. Otley then came to life and Nelson took an '84th-minute' opportunity to pull one back.

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