National League Two North: Otley 14 Stourbridge 7

NOT for the first time, Stourbridge left Cross Green frustrated, having expected to expand their push for promotion, convinced that their big forwards would carry the day.

But Otley had just that little bit more class, scoring a couple of excellent tries and creating a defensive wall which fell just once.

The home side made a swift start, a penalty following the kick-off taking them upfield before good straight-forward passing gave winger Paul Petchey room to round his man and go in at the corner, with full back Tom Hodson landing a fine conversion.

However, visitors Stourbridge then settled into their patterns and Otley were called upon to defend their line, which they did energetically.

Fly half Chris Scott missed a penalty for the visitors but they levelled on 30 minutes when No 8 Ciaran Moore broke from his scrum on the home 22 to put centre Ransford Otulaha over at the posts for Scott to convert.

This entertaining game continued with Otley digging deep to keep the strong Stourbridge pack at bay, but they continued to find time to attack, which they did admirably but without success, Hodson being just wide with a 40-metre penalty attempt to leave the match stalemated at half-time.

The visitors almost took the lead in the second half, replacement lock Will Harding being just about to ground the ball near the posts when up came winger James Wood to flatten him.

At the other end, scrum half Max Johnson made two brilliant breaks without result but on 59 minutes centre Jack Mackie, receiving the ball from a line-out, broke through the middle to give Petchey a chance to score in the corner and run round to the posts to make Hodson's conversion easy.

The remaining time consisted almost entirely of Otley being back on their line and defending every which way but holding out.