National League Two North: Otley 20 Chester 19

HAVING come out on top 7-5 at Chester in September and with the teams shadowing each other in the table, Otley were expecting another close game, and that is exactly what happened.

The visitors revelled in the improved conditions, but they could not shake off an all-enveloping defence nor contain the home forwards, who kept sneaking in for tries, aided by an excellent kicking display from full back Rhys Hayes.

Continuing their habit of early scores, Otley were ahead within five minutes, hooker Ben Steele, returning from injury, grounding.

Home scrum half Stephen Depledge was then held just short before Hayes landed two penalties in three minutes, the second from 40 metres.

The lead was short lived, however, Chester skipper, former Otley flanker Guy Ford being yellow-carded, Depledge kicking the penalty and converting a try by flanker Matt Heaton before he too was sin-binned, Hayes also landing the subsequent penalty.

Nursing a 15-9 lead, Otley looked secure when Depledge broke from a scrum to score on 57 minutes but Hayes had other ideas, kicking a penalty before joining the line to score wide out and then convert to come within one point.

Otley had a nervous five minutes and aborted the chance of a bonus try when gaining a five-metre line-out in the final minute, opting to kick the ball dead.