Club rugby: Injury-hit Otley show something like their true form in last ten minutes

An injury hit Otley just failed to contain ambitious Stourbridge in a 27-19 defeat in National Two North.
James Briscoe, a two-try scorer for Sandal in the 29-20 win over South Leicester.James Briscoe, a two-try scorer for Sandal in the 29-20 win over South Leicester.
James Briscoe, a two-try scorer for Sandal in the 29-20 win over South Leicester.

Stourbridge took the lead through a try from winger Toby Harris, converted by full-back Nick Coupland when their opponents had a player in the sin-bin only to suffer a similar fate when No 7 James Wood was yellow carded, falling behind through a penalty and a converted try.

After the break the visitors took their chances with three tries and one conversion to move 27-7 ahead.

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But a rejuvenated Otley found form in the final 10 minutes, striking back with two excellent tries from Coupland, converted by sub Joshua Cruise and one from centre Michael Coady.

Harrogate ran out 23-15 winners over Broadstreet in National Two North.

Tries from Noel Minikin and Jake Brady were added to by Lewis Minikin, who kicked a conversion and three penalties.

Ten points behind with half an hour on the clock, Sandal fought back to beat South Leicester 29-20.

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Two tries from flanker James Briscoe and one from second-row James Stewart were added to by stand-off and captain Greg Wood, who kicked a conversion and four penalties.

In National Three North, Ilkley recorded a 13-10 win at Waterloo, while Cleckheaton also won on the road, 22-17 at Birkenhead Park, but Huddersfield YMCA were narrowly beaten 26-23 by visitors Billingham.

Doncaster Phoenix put the North One East title beyond Morley’s reach with an eight-try, 50-17 home victory over Guisborough.

Morley – 18 points adrift but with a game in hand in the league standings – also scored a bonus in a 40-19 win at Driffield.

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Morley raced into a 33-0 lead at half-time before holding on to take victory.

West Leeds booked their place in the RFU Senior Vase final at Twickenham when they beat Oundle 31-23, tries coming from Kier Breakwell, Mark Calderwood and James Damarell, while Dale Breakwell kicked two conversions and four penalties.

Unbeaten for 57 consecutive matches, Wetherby lost out 13-7 to Buxton in the semi-final of the RFU Junior Vase.

Wharfedale lost 30-10 at Plymouth Albion in National League One.

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