Hull Ionians fixtures with Otley go back to our first season 1989/90 when we were both in North One. Otley gained promotion that season and the next and for the next 20 years our occasional fixtures were all ’Friendly’ fixtures with Otley’s higher league status and home advantage giving them victory in their 5 home games while in April 1998 Hull Ionians had home advantage which saw them win a close match 32-26.
2011/12 saw both teams now struggling in National 2 North with Otley winning both matches that season. Otley’s victory at Brantingham Park was dramatic, they had just been told from the touch line Harrogate were winning their match, so Otley had to win to avoid relegation. Tom Rock scored a length of the field last gasp try to gain a 39-38 victory.
Hull Ionians won both for a change the next season when we gained promotion. 2014/15 saw both in National 2 North again, both winning their home games, but Otley’s 12-6 home victory was not enough to stop Hull Ionians gaining promotion again.