Otley 12, Tynedale 13

BLACK Friday was followed by what was, in more ways than one, a black Saturday for Otley in National League Two North.

For starters there was the weather as, for most of the second half, the only recognisable figures in the gloom and the mud were referee Michael Harris in his bright yellow shirt and any of the replacements.

Secondly, this was a game that third-placed Otley should have won in what was a classic case of failure to turn territory and possession into points.

The home side trailed 3-0 at half-time, which was the unlikeliest of scorelines given the amount of defending that fourth-bottom Tynedale had to do and how much of that time Otley were in the visitors' 22.

Doubtless sparked up by some interval words, the home side upped the pace at the beginning of the second half. But as the gloom descended and the rain came down, it was a case in general of Otley giving away too many penalties, kicking aimlessly downfield or knocking on just when it seemed as if something was going to happen for them.

"They were only in our half for 45 seconds in the first half – and they only played for the last ten minutes," said a baffled Peter Clegg, Otley's director of rugby.

"They defended well in general but we played the wrong sort of rugby for the conditions. We tried to be too expansive.

"Yes, it had been a dry autumn and we prefer to play that way, but there is more to it than that and you have to adapt.

"It was tough on Stephen Depledge to try and kick that late conversion, given the conditions and the fact that it was almost dark. Nobody is blaming him."

As for the light, even Clegg agreed that starting 15 minutes earlier would not have made any difference, given how dark the afternoon became. The kick-off would have needed to be 30 minutes earlier at 1.45pm to have avoided the murkiness.

The match started as if it was going to be a feast of rugby, Tynedale No 8 Scott Powell running the kick-off back with intent.

Otley winger James Wood then kicked ahead and managed to retrieve the ball but Tynedale managed to slow down the attack so that it petered out.

Home left winger Gareth Newman was then denied a try in the second minute because the scoring pass from fly half Neil Chivers was forward, and enterprising Otley continued to hold sway sway despite the occasional pointless kick downfield.

Wood then knocked on an opportunity on the right wing and it was a shock when Tynedale took the lead in the 27th minute when Otley were offside just outside their 22, centre Ashley Smith landing the kick.

Another fine wind-assisted Wood kick to the right-hand corner put the hosts in prime position to score some points but they were eventually penalised, allowing Tynedale to clear their lines.

Then right on half-time, Otley flanker Matthew Heaton knocked on on the right when it looked as if an overlap had been created.

The hosts started the second half playing quicker and stronger, prop Adam Blades getting on the end of a rolling maul four minutes into the stanza to put Otley ahead.

Depledge's fine conversion made it 7-3 and Otley continued to show good continuity without it giving them clear opportunities.

A minute after lock Jon Stannard and prop George Burkinshaw had replaced flanker Tom O'Donnell and Jason Moss in the 51st minute, Otley were behind.

A high kick was spilled near halfway by Otley full back Kristian Sharples and the ball fell straight into the hands of Smith, who accepted the gift by running in for a try which he converted.

As the gloom increased dramatically and the lights from the clubhouse kitchen and changing rooms were shining brightly, Tynedale's defence remained solid and Smith, who scored all of Tynedale's points, added a 69th-minute penalty to make it 13-7 when Otley were offside.

Seven minutes later, Otley added some backs to a forward drive a la Japan and lock Jack Scott Paul got the touchdown. But it was always odds against, given the pitch conditions and the near darkness, that Depledge would add the conversion.

Smith then missed a penalty four minutes into stoppage time, after which the referee blew for full time in light that was more suited to a midweek evening Yorkshire Cup tie in March that had had gone to extra-time.

Otley therefore had to be content with a losing bonus point, slipping to fourth in the table when they really should have won and remained in third place ahead of Stourbridge.