Rowntree keeps his cool as late kick seals win

Hull………………… 12 Otley………………. 13

■ By RICHARD GORE

DESPITE scoring two tries to one, Hull were eventually undone by Otley’s scrum-half and kicker Joe Rowntree.

The hosts started well and after ten minutes Hull’s Jack Baldry picked up a loose ball and touched down giving Harrison Astley the easiest of conversions for a 7-0 lead.

Almost immediately Otley missed a penalty, before Hull started to exert some pressure and although they were getting plenty of penalties, they were unable to turn it into points.

Hull kept trying to break down the Otley defence and eventually this was achieved when Astley kicked cross field after a lineout 25 yards out for Mike Ad-lard to catch and round his opposite number and score. The conversion drifted wide as Hull went in 12-0 up.

An early second-half penalty by Rowntree reduced the arrears,before a further penalty in the 58th minute, put his side one converted try from victory.

With both searching for a decisive score, desperate defence saw Otley’s William Derry and Hull’s Anthony McCormack see yellow.

In the last five minutes, an Otley catchand-drive play saw them power over from a lineout after 73 minutes with the try being credited to Thomas Coates. Rowntree’s conversion from wide out securing the narrowest of victories.