A week after the convincing win at Guiseley, North Leeds headed to Otley, a team who two years prior had snatched the title off North Leeds. There were two changes from the Guiseley side with Cameron Deuchars replacing his brother and the child prodigy Jack Harland returning from ''injury''.
Even though there was news that Jonny Taylor would be late due to Daniel Holmes sending him to the wrong ground accidentally, Holmes decided he would bat on what looked like a good pitch. Again it would be Haslem and Holmes to open, a partnership which was proven to be successful with the pair accumulating over 220 runs when at the crease together.
Despite Otley's most prolific bowler not playing, Haslem and Holmes started slowly due to Otley opening with a spinner, Bullcock. However, once the openers were seen off, North Leeds started to increase the run rate with the same formula that worked so well in the Ilkley game; Haslem the aggressor and Holmes just rotating the strike.
Two sixes from Haslem over the Huckleberry Trees into the rugby pitch brought up the 50 partnership and signalled their intent to Otley who immediately went on the defensive. At this point, Taylor had finally arrived and straight away started moaning about his batting position. However, he wasn't even the unluckiest batsman as Tom Deane kept on finding himself being dropped down the order as Holmes shouted from the middle that first Dixon, then Copley and finally Harland would bat above him. This was a disappointment for Deane as I'm sure he would have wanted to improve on his average of 6.
Surprisingly Holmes passed his fifty before Haslem and then maybe out of annoyance that Holmes had reached the landmark before him, Haslem (51) chipped one to cover and was out for the first time in a North Leeds shirt. Otley then brought Bullcock back and he straight away picked up the wickets of both Dixon (1) and Copley (0) which left Holmes (63*) and Harland (3*) to help North Leeds to a respectable total of 127-3.
After Coach Bill Holmes had his half time words of wisdom, North Leeds had it reinforced to them that this game wasn't over. With 3 potential bowlers, Holmes decided to open with the in-form Harry Dixon and the out-of-form Charlie Whitehall Sharkey but despite this, it was Charlie who looked more threatening to opener Tom Brady (not the American Football player) whereas Dixon was struggling with his length and anything short was dispatched by Brady.
After 6 overs, Otley were going strong and ahead of the rate at 7 an over so in response, Holmes brought himself on to take pace off the ball and Harland to make use of the relatively new ball. The change worked straight away, with Holmes claiming Brady with his very first ball after he played it slightly too early with Deane taking a sharp catch at mid-wicket. With this wicket North Leeds put the squeeze on and brought Adam Copley on after Harland had finished his spell. Copley followed Holmes' lead and by bowling the other opener Bullcock on his first ball with a classic yorker.
With Otley now needing above 9 an over, Charlie was brought back and produced some quality death bowling, basically ending the game when he claimed two wickets in a over. Otley finished 20 runs short and North Leeds had their third win the 'Super Sevens' are now the only unbeaten side left.