National League Two North: Harrogate 15 Otley 35

REQUIRING just a single point to maintain their status, despite what happened elsewhere, Otley tore neighbours Harrogate apart, scoring five tries and leaving five more in the air to achieve their goal, and in so doing kicked their hosts into Saturday's mix, with relegation a real possibility.

Harrogate made a promising start but were pushed back via a penalty, and Otley made progress with a series of mauls.

When the ball was released, fly half Jack Blakeney-Edwards slipped through the defence to score and added the first of all five conversions.

The home forwards, not to be outdone, had Otley under pressure, and the visitors lost prop Tipiloma Kivalu to the sin bin and conceded a penalty try, with fly half Sam Fox converting.

They almost scored again from the restart but were eventually driven back, where speedy full back Tom Hodson went clean through to score.

Further forward pressure led to prop Jason Moss going over, although right on 40 minutes, Fox kicked a penalty to make the deficit 21-10.

After 54 minutes, Harrogate moved even closer when centre Ben Dixon went over following a line-out.

But Otley then took over, overpowering the home pack to gain a penalty try, and with it the bonus point they had fought for.

Flanker Tom O’Donnell then joined the backs to race over fora try to complete a job well done.

Otley will be pleased they are not now dependent on snatching a point from the final fixture at home to high-flying Sale at Saturday.

Harrogate’s fate, meanwhile, is in the hands of others.