Westcombe Park went out of the Powergen Cup at the fourth round stage on Saturday, but the 45-16 loss did not truly reflect the effort that Westcombe Park put in to the game on their first ever visit to Cross Green to play Otley.

A large contingent of Combe supporters made the long journey to the foot of the Yorkshire Dales to see the match against a side which plays two divisions higher.

On a dark and grey day, it was Combe who started much the stronger and made a dream start with No.8 Ian Hardcastle to the fore.

After three minutes, Otley were penalised for a high tackle 25 metres out and captain and centre Simon Jervis slotted home the kick to give Combe a welcome early lead.

Otley came back strongly but notably, flanker Nathan Peters destroyed an Otley maul before the home side equalised with a penalty from in front of the posts by fly-half Ian Shuttleworth.

Otley at this stage were persisting with the high ball up into the gloom and relying on Combe errors. But Combe's back three of full-back Gert De Kock and wings Dave Bonner and Sam Greenaway coped well.

Jervis put Combe back in a good position with a lovely rolling kick well into the Otley 22 and Combe won a scrum following a great break by scrum-half Michael Hooke, taking play to seven metres short of the Otley line.

The scrum was won and the ball spun down the backs. A dummy and miss-pass put De Kock into the clear and he cruised over the Otley line for a try which Jervis converted to put Combe 10-3 ahead.

However, after a try by Otley prop Kris Fullman, a deflected kick fell kindly to Otley's burly left-wing rugby league convert, Waisale Sovatabua, who chipped ahead and won the race to touch down.

Although the conversion was missed, Otley took the lead for the first time just before half-time when centre Kyle Dench went over and Shuttleworth converted to put Otley 20-13 ahead.

Jervis landed a second half penalty but that was as good as it got for Combe.

Next Saturday, Combe return to National League 3 South action when they travel to league leaders Lydney, but will be confident, having beaten them in the Powergen Cup earlier in the season.