REPORT BY: NICK DOYLE

OTLEY went down to their first league defeat at Billingham, when the hosts grabbed a narrow win in a tight and physical encounter on Saturday.

The drizzle had departed before the Green and Whites kicked off, Eddie Crossland’s kicks returning the ball to their half twice before Otley conceded a scrum.

Billingham moved the ball to their winger Jonny Horner who sped down the flank only to be tackled into touch by Callum Irvine. Otley lost possession in the ensuing melee, Billingham kicking for the corner, but they then knocked on.

Otley marched the scrum forward some 10 metres getting a penalty for their efforts, followed by a Crossland 50:22. However, having secured possession they were penalised for obstruction.

Most of the early play had been in the visitors’ half, and as the quarter hour came up their stern defence was slowly pushing Billingham back. However, Otley were penalised for not rolling away on their 10-metre line and Ryan Foreman’s kick gave Billingham the opening points.

Some neat play took Otley into the Billingham half, opting for the corner when the home side went offside and then a scrum five metres out after another infringement. Twelve phases, metres out from the line, only took Otley to the other side of the posts where they got another penalty, Irvine levelling the scores after 23 minutes.

The hosts were straight back in Otley’s half and having stayed on the 22 for a while, Horner got to within five before he was stopped.

The attack moved to the other side of the posts, where Tom Campbell was dragged down just short of the line but where scrum-half Elliott Husband lifted the ball to place it over the line beyond the prone players. The conversion sailed beyond the posts.

Otley put the pressure on in the second half but conceded a penalty in front of Billingham’s posts.

The hosts made their way into Otley’s half, where Foreman got his second penalty.

Returning from the Billingham half, from their 10-metre line Otley mounted another assault ending with Crossland running 30 metres to touch down, Irvine converting.

With just a point between the two sides, it was Otley who first got closest to the opposition line, but they eventually lost the ball in a crunching tackle.

The home side were made to work as they moved slowly up the pitch. Husband kicked the ball into the away side’s 22 and the return kick didn’t find touch, allowing the attack to continue with Foreman and Dan Burns making headway. Foreman’s kick onto the left flank saw Horner catch the ball before racing to the line.

Otley conceded a penalty on the half-way line, and another one moments later just outside their 22 from where Peter Evans middled the posts.

Now facing the prospect of coming away with nothing and 15 minutes left, the visitors mounted a wave of attacks but were initially rebuffed by the solid Billingham defence.

In their next attack with four minutes to go, six phases saw Rhys Green stopped just before the line. Sam Connor got the ball to Crossland who quickly passed it to Jacob Holmes who broke through the defence to score, Irvine converting.

A last gasp drop-kick attempt by Otley went wide and both sides dropped to their knees with exhaustion after Michael Harris blew the final whistle, with the hosts claiming a 19-17 victory.

Otley are at home this Saturday when they play local rivals Wharfedale.