On a bright, sunny autumn afternoon Dale entertained Otley. Dale were immediately on the back foot with the visitors scoring a converted try following the first of what was to be a plethora of penalties conceded by the home team. Dale soon got themselves on the scoreboard courtesy of a penalty from Lucas Tyrer.

Otley then extended their lead with another converted try, running the ball back after a poor defensive kick. The score now reading 3-14. Dale then conceded another penalty for a high tackle. The kick was successful. 3-17. Shortly after Dale conceded a scrum penalty, the ball was kicked deep and from the resulting line out won by Otley the ball was forced over the line for their third try. The conversion was missed. Just on half time the visitors scored their 4th try. The ball was kicked out to the left, the Dale defence held up their arms as the ball appeared to land on the touch line before bouncing back in field. The assistant’s flag stayed down, the Otley winger collected the ball and ran in under the sticks. The conversion was successful leaving the half time score 3-29 and Dale with a lot of work to do.

Dale started well in the second half and were rewarded with a try by Jake Foster. The ball was retained well around the 5-metre line before finding its way out to Foster who dived over in the corner. The conversion was missed leaving the score 8-29. A second try soon followed. The ball was won midway in the Dale half and following good hands in midfield the ball was worked out to Roko Daviu on the right wing who slipped his tackle and sprinted to the line diving over to the right of the posts. The conversion was good leaving the score 15-29.

Having got themselves back in the game Dale shot themselves in the foot allowing Otley to score a fifth try following some sloppy defence. The conversion was good and the game was slipping away. 15-36. Otley further extended their lead with a sixth converted try.

To their credit Dale did not give up and following a sustained period of attacking play the ball found its way to hooker Owen Boxall who went over to the right of the posts. The conversion was good the score becoming 22-43.

A bonus point try arrived shortly after. Following a good scrummage on their own 22 Dale moved the ball out quickly to the left where Daviu, still in his own half, tucked the ball under his arm, put his head down and showing a blistering turn of speed scorched his way to the tryline leaving the Otley defence in his wake. The conversion was missed and the score was 27-43.

Dale continued to take the game to the visitors and again following a good passage of play around the 5-metre line skipper Callum Whelan put in a grubber kick which he collected himself before crossing for Dale’s fifth try. The conversion a missed and the score was now 32-43.
There was still time for Dale to go for a possible losing bonus point, but the Otley defence stood strong and time petered out leaving the final score 32-43.

Dale showed some good attacking flair resulting in five tries and twice being held up over the line. However, a lack of discipline resulting in far too many penalties ultimately led to their downfall.

Phil Johnson