OTLEY went to Lytham St Annes looking for their first league win at Woodlands, knowing that Fylde would be looking to maintain their unbeaten home record for this season.

Otley were in the game for the first 75 minutes, until two late tries by the home snuffed any chances of an upset.

In front of a crowd of some 900 and in bright sunshine, Fylde had early two chances following penalties but failed to deliver legal lineouts in Otley’s 22. At the second scrum, in Fylde’s half, Otley’s forwards began to show their dominance as the home side conceded a penalty. The initial attack broke down after a forward pass but after two scrums in Fylde’s 22, it was Otley’s turn to concede a penalty.

From the subsequent line-out the ball went to the other side of the pitch; Tom Grimes broke through but as he headed for the whitewash an excellent cover tackle saw him loose the ball forward five metres out. The first quarter ended pointless, and shortly afterwards Fylde were reduced to 14 when Jordan Dorrington took out Elliot Morgan in the air earning him a yellow card.

For the majority of those ten minutes Otley were kept in their half, and just before Dorrington came back on Jack Gilmartin was shown a yellow card for tackling within ten metres after Ben Gould’s quick tap and go.

An Otley scrum sent the Fylde pack sideways, Crossland kicking the penalty into the opposition half. From there Otley went forward again, Fylde’s David Fairbrother going offside in the front of the posts from where Callum Irvine slotted over a penalty goal on 35 minutes.

The tussles continued and when Fylde kicked through and set-up a two on one, but as the ball went between them 10 metres from Otley’s line Irvine knocked it down deliberately earning him a short rest on the bench. Another tap-and-go kept the pressure on and Fylde were rewarded when Tom Carleton slipped through two defenders and Greg Smith converted to make it 7-3 at half-time.

In the opening two minutes of the second half Connor Wilkinson scored under the posts, Smith adding the extras. Fylde’s running backs continued to set up opportunities for them but Otley’s defence was up to the challenge. Eventually Otley got into Fylde’s half, where they laid siege in the opposition 22. Crossland was held up over the line, Fairbrother went to the bin and was followed by Sam Parker for standing up in the scrum. In front of the posts Otley went for another scrum and, after a reset, the ball went through Rory Gaffney’s and Irvine’s hands and then to Duncan Darling who scored in the right hand corner. Irvine converted from just behind the 22.

Otley got a penalty on the half-way line which went into the opposition 22, a rolling maul getting within eight metres. Gaffney nearly got over the line in the left hand corner, but held onto the ball and gave Fylde a penalty. The roles were reversed with Otley having to defend their line, a goal line restart brought Fylde straight back with Fairbrother’s late pass to Cole Potts who scored on 78 minutes.

The restart went straight out, and from the scrum. Now sniffing the bonus point try, Fylde went all out with Wilkinson sprinting the last 22 to score, Smith adding his fourth conversion to bring the match to an end.

Next Saturday at Cross Green Otley entertain Sedgley Park who have been crowned league champions after their 80-14 drubbing of Sheffield Tigers.