REPORT BY: NICK DOYLE

OTLEY went to Dore Moor looking to maintain their hopes of a top three finish in the league but left with nothing for only the second time this season.

The Cross Greeners kicked off and absorbed some early Tigers pressure which ended in Otley’s 22 when the home side failed to release. From the line out on the half-way line, Clark Wells burst through, joined by his teammates as they tried to find a way through the remaining defence. Sheffield strayed offside and gave Joe Rowntree the opportunity to open the scoring with a penalty after three minutes.

Otley had a short period in the opposition half, but then Tigers mounted their first sustained attack aided by Otley conceding two penalties in their 22. The hosts then gave away a penalty at the scrum some five metres from Otley’s line, allowing the visitors to clear their lines. However, a loose lineout gave possession back to Sheffield who, having crossed the pitch, had Jamie Broadley breaking before he passed to Greg Mellor who went onto score on the left. Mark Ireland added the extra two points on the quarter hour mark.

Some ten minutes later Otley gave away another penalty and the hosts found touch some five metres from Otley’s line on the right. From there, they drove Otley back with Will Archer scoring from the back of the maul, Ireland doing his usual.

Just after the half hour mark Ryan Gibson was yellow carded for a head-on-head tackle on the half-way line, and a minute later Reece Ward followed him to the dugout for a high tackle on Otley’s 5 metre line. Tigers got their third try through another catch-and-drive maul which Jack Gilmartin pulled down, the referee blowing for a penalty try and sending him to the bin.

With a scrum ten metres from Otley’s line, the visitors conceded a penalty. A lapse in concentration by Otley was exploited by Ireland whose quick tap-and-go was followed by a short run to the line, his conversion heralding the half-time whistle.

Otley had a couple of minutes in the second half before they were back to full strength, a penalty putting them within five metres of Sheffield’s line. From there and after a couple of phases, Callum Irvine’s run took a decisive turn for the better outfoxing the Sheffield defence to give him a clear run to the posts. Rowntree added the conversion on 46 minutes.

Otley’s improvement continued, with Irvine utilising the wind to keep the pressure on Sheffield. An overthrown lineout saw Irvine take the ball forward, the move ending with his drop goal attempt. In a rare incursion into Otley’s 22, Sheffield were awarded a penalty and when play finally ended, Gavin Stead was given a yellow for kicking the ball away. Sheffield were unable to capitalise and Otley cleared their lines.

Keeping Sheffield penned in their half, Otley’s efforts were rewarded on 68 minutes when Luke Cole burst through two tackles from outside their 22 to score under the posts, Stead returning after Irvine’s conversion. Now looking for at least a losing bonus, Otley continued to keep Sheffield in their half but couldn’t make that territorial advantage count – despite a 28 phase move which didn’t find a way through – the result finishing 28-17 in Sheffield’s favour.

Otley return to South Yorkshire to play sixth placed Rotherham on Saturday.