Rugby Union: Mid-game dominance gives Otley the spoils

Harrogate try scorer Jonny Giles takes on the Otley defence. PIC: Adrian Murray

Harrogate raced into a 10-0 lead inside 10 minutes with scrum-half Danny Matthews kicking a penalty before converting full-back Oli Rosillo’s try.

But prop Luke Chadwick touched down and some good kicking from full-back Tom Hodson saw Otley lead 16-10 at half-time.

A try from centre Henry Roberts after the break, along with a Hodson penalty and conversion, saw them stretch the lead to 26-10.

Harrogate did, however, manage to claw a consolation try back at the end through winger Jonny Giles.

Wharfedale remain firmly in the relegation picture, and were comfortably beaten at high flyers Caldy 59-12.

The hosts ran in nine tries to go nine points clear at the top of the table. Robbie Davidson did get the visitors on the board scoring twice in a frantic first half, but like the Sheffield Tigers, Wharfedale sit three points from the bottom of the table. Tries from second row Martyn Mitchell and Elliot Morgan helped Ilkley to a 20-12 win over Yorkshire rivals Morley in National Three North, with Joe Rowntree kicking both conversions and two penalties.

Huddersfield made it 14 straight league wins as they ran out 41-15 winners at Doncaster Phoenix.

Full back Elliot Hodgson scored a hat-trick and Lewis Workman scored two, as Huddersfield maintained their perfect start to the season.

The game also doubled up as a Yorkshire Cup game, with Huddersfield advancing to the next round.

In the same league, Sandal recorded an impressive win to close the gap to Wirral in third place to just three points with a 35-24 victory.

Sam Whittingham, Dom Fawcett, Dec Thompson and Tom Coad gave the hosts maximum points with a 35-12 lead.

Elsewhere, Cleckheaton were 50-17 winners at bottom-of-the-league Stockport.

Huddersfield YMCA took victory in North One East, beating Dinnington 20-17 after being awarded a penalty try in the dying seconds of the game.

And Pocklington ran out 38-0 winners over Driffield in an East Yorkshire derby, with scrum-half Ben Rees, No 8 Jack Holbrough, second row Tom Peters, full-back Jack Fletcher and winger Tim Nixon scoring their tries.

Yarnbury moved off the bottom of Yorkshire One after a 32-7 home win over North Ribblesdale, Jason Fogg and Nathan Benton scored two tries apiece for the hosts.