Otley 31 Leicester Lions 22

OTLEY found the Midlanders difficult to put away, and the hosts lost a 16-point lead to go a point behind in a 20-minute spell in the second half.

However, they roused themselves, and when Lions replacement lock Tom Cheney was yellow-carded after 73 minutes, a penalty into the corner set them up for a crucial drive.

No 8 Freddie Watson scored from it and, in the final moments, Otley were awarded a penalty try which secured maximum points.

The big Lions forwards were a menace from the start, and they captured the kick-off to put Otley on the back foot and kept up the pressure, eventually getting winger Luke Veebel over in the corner.

Coming into the game, Otley had brilliant breaks from Tom O’Donnell and Michael Coady but no score until Stephen Depledge took a penalty chance on 30 minutes after Lions flanker Drew Rudkin picked up a yellow card.

In his absence, centre Henry Roberts went in for a try for Otley and Depledge added another penalty.

He added a third penalty two minutes after the break and, making a break from the base of a ruck from the re-start, he sliced open the defence to put winger Harry Hudson on an unstoppable run and then converted.

Needing to consolidate their lead, they fumbled, letting the Lions in for three tries in the next 20 minutes from replacement fly half Tim Douglas, replacement prop Ben Spokes and No 8 Robert Young but Otley had the spirit to rally and snatch victory.