OTLEY went to Rotherham in hope of avoiding back-to-back defeats in South Yorkshire but had to settle for a losing bonus point.

Initially playing against a blustery wind blowing across the pitch, Otley had an early opportunity to take the lead helped after Rotherham gave away two penalties. However, from five metres out they lost possession as they tried to move the ball away from the ruck. The next 15 minutes was spent in Otley’s half, with only one foray into the opposition 22, a penalty finally pinning them in their 22. A Rotherham rolling maul then steamrollered their way to the line, prop Danny Rylance crashing over.

After the restart Otley spent another ten minutes in their half, repelling a couple of catch-and-drives by Rotherham and holding up Richard Hayes over the line. A clearance kick out on the full brought Otley to just outside their 22, where they strayed offside in defending their line. However, for the second time in two weeks they were caught napping when Zak Poole took a quick tap-penalty and proceeded to bundle his way over. Hayes added the extras.

Otley did get into the Rotherham 22, but the balled was ripped from them and aided by the wind, play returned to their half. In the final play of the half Kai Ramrattan’s grubber kick through the Otley defence was pounced on by Jack Taylor who scored an unconverted try in the left-hand corner to make the score 17-0.

Rotherham had their bonus point try on 41 minutes after their second visit to Otley’s 22, their pack setting up a position on the visitor’s line that saw Tomasi Tanumi dart over in the corner for a third unconverted try.

Now with the wind behind them, Otley started to get a toehold into the game. They were also held up over the line in their first attack of the half and continued to keep the pressure on. They were rewarded when Rotherham were caught offside in their 22, the kick going into the left-hand corner. The Otley pack nearly made it across the line and they then released the ball for Clark Wells to go over to the right of the posts. A 22:22, it was that long, by Eddie Crossland set up another attacking position. From the line-out Luke Cole broke from the back of a maul to set up Gavin Stead who dashed to the line to score, before adding his second conversion on 55 minutes.

Rotherham nearly had a fifth try, but they lost the ball on Otley’s line and in the subsequent attack came within five metres of scoring. Otley were then pinged for offside, and Rotherham settled for a penalty converted by Hayes. Three minutes later from a line-out inside Rotherham’s 22, Otley’s pack trundled forward with Ben Waddington touching down. Stead’s conversion put Otley just four points behind with 15 to go.

Otley continued to press but a second Hayes penalty on 73 minutes made the task more difficult. The remainder of the game was played in the hosts’ half, except for one Rotherham attack halted before Otley’s 22 where they were penalised. With little time left the kick found Rotherham’s 22, from where Otley launched one final attack. With their maul halted, Otley moved the ball left but it was then dropped – Rotherham quick to kick the ball into touch to crown a win in their centenary week.

Otley return to Cross Green on Saturday for the first time in six weeks to play local rivals Wharfedale – kick-off 3:00pm.