National League Two North: Stourbridge 31 Otley 5:

BEN Steele captained Otley in their last National League Two North game of the season, and he scored their only points.

In what was effectively a dead rubber, both sides were only playing for pride.

Otley had to make a number of changes following the injuries suffered the previous week in the defeat against Luctonians, and had to field Mike Coady at No 8.

Meanwhile, the visitors' bench included a number of Otley Saracens who had played in an Aire-Wharfe Cup quarter-final earlier in the week.

Looking to make amends in their final game of the season, having lost to Macclesfield 50-31 the previous week, Stourbridge were quickly out of the traps.

After Otley were penalised in the scrum, the ball was kicked to the corner and, from the line-out, Jack Lea went over after five minutes.

Six minutes later, after two further penalty concessions by Otley gave the hosts the necessary platform, Nick Murphy gave Chad Thorne an inside pass to score.

It wasn't until the quarter-hour mark that Otley were able to mount their first sustained attack, but it was snuffed out by the home side's defence.

However, Otley were able to keep the hosts penned in their half for the remainder of the first stanza and came close once, without being decisive enough to bother the scorers.

Otley kicked off the second period and, almost immediately, gave away away another penalty, which was put into the visitors' 22, although fortunately the line-out wasn't straight.

George Morgan was given Stour's second yellow card after a ruck infringement, and Otley wasted no time in taking advantage.

The attacking penalty line-out was secured and the catch and drive found veteran Steele, who crashed over from short range.

Otley did have other chances, especially with three attackers against two defenders with the line in sight, but the ball went behind the outside runner and the momentum was lost.

In his only second start, Danny Adu had a good game for the visitors and ran 20 metres to the halfway line before being brought down.

Then Stour were able to mount their own attack, with Phil Bowden scoring and Rodd Petty adding the extras just before the hour.

Otley then decided to put the bench on and, while they and the rest of the team acquitted themselves well, it was never going to be easy to outdo Stourbridge on their artificial grass pitch.

The hosts finished with a flurry, scored twice through Rob Connolly and Sam Montieri, with Petty converting both of the tries.