OTLEY battled hard but were defeated 31-0 by play-off bound Chester on Saturday.

Although Otley didn’t score, they produced a much better performance than they did at Stourbridge, which was also on an artificial pitch.

Although Chester needed to ensure they won to secure the play-off position in the league, it was Otley that made the initial moves.

Lewis Cooper broke through, from which Otley got a penalty which went into the 22, but the attack broke down.

Both sides had chances and Chester scored just before the first quarter chime when winger Harrison Vare went over and James Robins converted.

The game continued in a similar vein, although after 30 minutes Joe Rowntree had to come off for a head injury assessment.

James Costin-Pratt replaced the scrum-half and made a confident debut.

The half ended with an unconverted try by hooker Alick Croft putting Chester up 12-0.

The opening ten minutes of the second half remained tight until Otley went further behind when Michael Craven scored, which Robins converted.

Otley never gave up and did come close but couldn’t make it count.

After a deliberate knock-on by Chester at a scrum, they spurned the three points and went for the corner.

They then moved the ball across the pitch trying to find an opening, but eventually gave away a penalty.

The hammer blow came with seven minutes to go when Vare got his second and the bonus point for Chester.

This was quickly followed by a charge down from which Tom Foden scored, Robins converting the second of those tries.

NICK DOYLE