Late revival not enough as Otley fall short at home

A late revival by Otley did not see them overcome Sheffield Tigers, but their four tries lifted them off the bottom of the table.

The Cross Greeners had a long-range penalty fall short two minutes into the game, and they had the territorial advantage for the opening ten but a stubborn Tigers’ defence kept Otley at bay. Sheffield then made it into Otley’s half and after the home side conceded three penalties, Mark Ireland stepped up in front of the posts to open the scoring for Sheffield on 13 minutes.

Otley were unphased by this setback and were again back in Tigers’ 22 looking for their first score, but they weren’t able to find it. Tigers broke free, winger James Norman’s run taking them into Otley’s half. A mix up at the line-out allowed Tigers to keep up the momentum before they were bundled into touch. Otley then conceded a penalty at a scrum in the corner, and from the line-out Sheffield drove their way over the line with hooker William Archer touching down.

Sheffield again rebuffed Otley’s advances not allowing them to get to within 5 metres of their line before they gave away a penalty. Opting for their scrum, Otley continued to batter the opposition line, moving the ball to both touchlines, before they lost the ball in the tackle. A penalty and a run by No 8 Tom Calladine saw Sheffield in Otley’s half. Otley regained possession in their 22 but lost it soon after, and from the scrum Sheffield move the ball right with Will Baker sliding over the whitewash as he was tackled with three minutes to go. Ireland’s conversion made the half time score 0-17.

After Sheffield started the second half, Otley made steady progress up the pitch before they knocked-on just beyond Tigers’ 10 metre line. A penalty to Sheffield at the scrum saw the ball land just outside Otley’s 22 and after the line-out Tigers’ Will Wallace broke through a tackle, and from the back of his hand passed to James Norman who went onto score. Otley again made it into Tigers’ redzone with a penalty, but illegally obstructed at the line-out. Sheffield got their bonus point try in the cemetery corner when, from the back of a scrum, Calladine came round a five metre scrum unopposed. Ireland’s fourth conversion made the score 0-31.

With less than 20 minutes to go, Otley’s resolve finally paid off. Otley had a line-out in Tigers’ 22 after the opposition kicked out on the full from which they mounted another attack. Then a high tackle in front of the posts allowed them to regroup with a scrum, the ball going left with Billy Nicholls getting a try for Otley.

Otley then kept Sheffield penned in their own half, although Otley had to retreat momentarily into their own half from where they launched another attack. Dan Preston-Routledge broke through the Tigers’ initial defence getting the ball to Crossland who threw it over the remaining defenders giving Sam Taylor a clear run to the clubhouse corner.

Having regathered the restart, Otley move the ball left in their 22, Ben Dinsdale breaking out and he got midway down Sheffield’s half being tackled. Keeping the ball moving, Otley went right with Taylor going down the right-hand touchline before sending the ball in to Leon Mudd who crashed over with three minutes to go, Crossland getting his second conversion.

Sheffield conceded a penalty just inside Otley’s half. From the line-out Otley were made to work hard to make progress but they did it, and having come back from the other side of the pitch Otley’s move ended when Louis Martin touched down close to the clubhouse corner-flag.

Otley were now within seven points, and there was time for just one more play. A penalty by Sheffield extended the game, but then one by Otley saw Tigers kick the ball into touch to bring Otley’s revival to an end, as the visitors ran out 31-24 winners.