Another game just out of reach

South Leicester 22 Otley 30
No league points today despite winning the second half 15-3. Otleys 4 first half tries made it just to difficult for South to overcome.
The visitors opened the scoring after 5 minutes with a Melville unconverted try but it looked as if South were going to overcome their slow start when Gaz Turner left his would be tacklers floundering as he opened up Otleys defence before releasing a perfectly timed pass to Tahir El Mahdi who raced over for a try, converted by Rickie Aley.
At 7-5 it looked as if South would settle down to take Otley on but a Depledge penalty regained the lead for the visitors and from that moment South saw the first half go away from them.
Two successive Otley penalties following line outs in Souths 22 led to Melville collecting a converted try. This was followed within 5 minutes by further tries from Melville and Sharpes with one converted: 7-27 at HT
South started the second half with a Aley penalty and gradually the pack started to dominate and after two scrums and two penalties on Otleys line, Kris McFedries picked up at the base of the scrum and dived over,Aley added the extras and it looked game on but a Depledge penalty gave the visitors some breathing space.
Chris and Stuart Bale started to make in roads with some surging runs Tahir El Mahdi had a try disallowed, it was not until the final minutes after Rickie Aley had collected the ball near his 22 and after a lung busting run by a supporting Chris Bale, South were able to cross the line for an unconverted try. The final whistle followed.
There are no easy games in this league and as today South cannot relax for a moment but they are capable of winning more matches. I suppose it could be called a bad day at the office
Report by Mick McNeill