Otley's game at Billingham on Saturday in National Two North finished five tries apiece, but Gavin Stead’s kicking earned the away side their fifth win of the season.

It was a crucial victory for Otley, one which moved them 10 points clear of the relegation zone.

Stead had his first chance of points within 20 seconds of the game starting on Saturday and he did not miss.

Having caught Otley’s kick-off, Billingham gave away a penalty as they tried to exit their 22.

Two minutes later, having ripped the ball away from their hosts in their 22, Otley nearly made to the other end of the pitch, only to drop it metres from the line.

Nevertheless, Otley kept the pressure up and at the second scrum, Billingham yielded and Stead doubled his tally.

Played remained in the Billingham half and after they knocked on, Otley moved the ball across the pitch before Ben Waddington raced down the right hand touchline.

He then passed to Eddie Crossland who quickly gave it to Rory Gaffney, the scrum-half finishing the move with a diagonal run to the posts.

Shortly afterwards, Ben Dinsdale dived over but was unable to ground the ball, Billingham getting a goal line drop out.

In the next attack, Otley were kept at bay just beyond the 22 before Jacob Holmes broke through but was tackled just before the line.

In the ensuing ruck, a Billingham hand went wayward and received a yellow card.

Billingham were able to get possession at the subsequent scrum, but then a no-arms tackle gave Stead the opportunity to extend Otley’s lead at the end of the first quarter, which he took.

A penalty offence by Otley gave Billingham their first spell in the visitors’ red zone.

Two further penalties ensued before Peter Evans found a gap in the Otley defence that Sam Heron converted.

Otley were penalised a couple more times, gifting Billingham the territorial advantage, and a run by Evans set up hooker Ed Graham to score unopposed in the corner.

Billingham knocked on the restart, giving Otley a scrum some 15 metres from the home line.

After another scrum, Dinsdale was able to evade three tacklers to score close to the posts.

Stead added the conversion on 33 minutes, meaning the half-time score 23-12.

Early on after the break, a scrum penalty by Otley in their 22 sent the ball into the corner, with Dan Dixon getting a try for the home side from a rolling maul, which Ryan Foreman converted.

Three minutes later, Stead went to sin-bin for a high tackle and Billingham came close to further reducing the deficit.

No.8 Anthony Jackson broke through to the 22, but Crossland’s tackle sent the ball into touch metres from the line.

A penalty got Otley out of their 22, and from there, they manoeuvred their way to the Billingham touch line.

With the home side still regrouping, Gaffney spotted a gap five metres out which he went through, Crossland adding the conversion.

It was Billingham who scored the next try, Otley straying offside meaning they had to defend a five-metre line out.

Billingham gathered the ball and, after another rolling maul, Dixon got his second just before the hour mark.

Two more penalties gave Billingham an attacking platform and when Otley conceded a third in front of the posts, the hosts continued to batter the line until the ball went wide to Joe Ross, who scored in the corner.

With just one point between the two sides and just over 10 minutes to go, Otley had to up their game.

From a line-out after the restart, the ball went into the middle of the Billingham half where Sam Taylor set up Dinsdale for his second try.

Billingham prop Joe Spoors nearly made it to the Otley line before he was tackled by Dinsdale, their attack finally breaking down when the ball was knocked on.

Playing the advantage, Sam Hodge took the ball to beyond the 10 metre line, from where Taylor took on the task.

He made it to Billingham’s 22 with tacklers bearing down on him and, with Waddington and Ryan Gibson either side of him, he chose the latter, who carried the ball to the line to score and give Otley breathing space.

Another run by Dinsdale starting inside his own half was continued by George Bowen  who was tackled some 15 metres from the line, but they then lost possession.

Billingham made it to Otley’s 10 metre line before they infringed again, and Crossland kicked high and out to bring a game to a close.

Next Saturday, Otley are at home to rock-bottom Huddersfield in a re-arranged match from last year. Kick-off is at 2:15pm.

BY NICK DOYLE