Still very early days in the 2025/26 National League 2 (North) season, but Mowden now sit in the bronze medal spot in the table, after securing a 5-point home win against an awkward Otley side, who were still in the game come the final whistle.

Whilst the victory was ground out, Mowden being behind at three stages of the game, the home side always looked capable of that extra impetus to see them through in the end.

After a dreadful start from the Otley kick-off, when Mowden failed to secure possession, the visitors capitalised, stunning the decent home crowd with a first minute score by full back Dinsdale who dotted down wide out before Mowden had touched the ball. (0 - 5)

Mowden’s response was almost immediate, when from the re-start, forward pressure from the home pack tested Otley’s defensive credentials, which fell short of the mark, as Mowden No. 8 Simon UZOKWE powered over from close range to open the scoring

However, as both sides probed each other’s defences, two further tries were scored before the first quarter of the game.

First, Otley winger Trees registered (7 – 10), with centre Reed again unsuccessful with his second the conversion.

A strong individual try by home winger Shaun McCARTNEY, powering his way through two would-be tacklers to dot down in the corner. (12 – 10)

Otley’s back-rower Warren-Lambert restored the lead (12 – 15), which was improved by a kick, this time successful from Reed. (12 – 17)

Mowden responded when after strong forward pressure on the visitor’s line, brought reward for home prop Sam CLARK who crashed over from close range, for a levelling try (17 – 17). With the Flynn WARD conversion (19 – 17), that looked the scoreline at oranges, however, Otley were awarded a penalty within Rees’s range (19 – 20), giving Otley the slender lead at the break.

The first score after the interval was predicted to be all important and it was Mowden who came out the more likely. They took the game to the visitors, who to their credit, held out bravely.

However, two more home tries followed as Mowden, first with UZOKWE again bullocking his way over from close range (24 -20), then McCARTNEY grabbing his brace after some precise inter-passing, both accurately converted by WARD (33 – 20), taking Mowden into a well-deserved winning position.

At the death, Otley were awarded a bizarre penalty try, reducing the deficit, but with no further scoring, Mowden took the spoils.

Full Time - DMP 33 - 27 Otley
MOTM - Ben Douglas