Stour’s starting XV went the distance without recourse to tactical substitutions, making better use of the conditions than the visitors who made full use of their bench subs, indeed the hosts would have secured a bonus point 4th try had they not squandered several opportunities as the visitors tired.

With both sides struggling to adapt to the wind on a surface that held up remarkably well, the game went scoreless until the 19th minute when Stour tried to run ball in hand from their own half. Otley’s openside flanker Tom O’Donnell pounced, the ball was turned over and centre Mike Coady was through before the defensive line could form.

It took a further 10min for Stour to get on the scoreboard, 2nd row Chris Roddy stealing the visitors’ lineout throw deep in their 22 to set up a short set of drives that worked flanker Joe Carpenter over. Otley’s Steve Depledge restored the lead with a penalty, but with the wind worth 15-20pts according to seasoned observers Stour’s coaches will have been the happier as the halftime whistle went.

Stour were in business in the 2nd half’s opening exchanges, a Chris Scott penalty levelling the scores. Otley worked hard in defence though, shutting Stour out for a further 20min but at the cost of another Scott penalty when a runner tried to break the siege by running a turnover from deep and got isolated by hooker Billy Harding.

A Scott garryowen was fielded by Coady, but his wayward pass was picked off by Stour no.8 James Rodley and Stour smelt blood. With the cover stretched they moved the ball right to winger Ash Elvers, he was brought down just short by the cover but the damage was done and 2nd row Chris Depper barged through to score near the posts.

Otley hung on grimly, benefitting from some poor decision-making by Stour attackers, but their line was breached again when tired fingers spilt a pass deep in their 22, Stour moving turnover ball wide for centre Joe Heatley to score. Fulltime 25-8.

Next week Stour travel to newly-promoted Sale, the week after Dec 19th they host Luctonians for a pre-Christmas North Midlands county derby, ko 3pm.