Otley 31 Hinckley 14

OTLEY were again given a good work-out by their National League Three opponents but had the class to secure a comfortable win.

New boy Gareth Newman, a scrum-half playing out on the wing, grabbed a hat-trick and centre Mike Coady hacked through before following up and touching down.

Skipper Stephen Depledge, an absentee last week, soon set up an excellent understanding with his new half-back partner Joshua Cruise and it was he who instigated the first try, snapping up a loose ball after nine minutes which was moved out quickly for Newman to score. Cruise landed the first of three long-distance conversions.

Five minutes later, Newman was in for a second try quickly followed by Coady then, just before the break, a tap penalty in the Otley 22 saw centre Matt Fearn go in at the posts for the visitors, fly-half Mark De-Ville converting.

There was just time for Cruise to kick a penalty for a half-time 24-7 lead for Otley.

Constant changes by both sides had an affect on the game but Otley went further ahead when Newman again went in wide out, this time, with Cruise resting, Depledge added the conversion.

Against the run of play, the Hinckley forwards gained some reward for their hard work when lock John Smith crashed over for De-Ville to convert.