Leeds Tykes are back in the big time of English club rugby after a combination of results saw them declared Champions following their 40-12 win over Otley.
That result coupled with Doncaster's win over Rotherham ensured a return to the Guinness Premiership for Leeds at the first time of asking and signaled scenes of joy from the Tykes young squad and supporters at Cross Green.
The game itself had been a nervy display from the Tykes akin to a marathon runner coming into the final mile of the race however they dug deep and in the end finished with a sprint.
The Tykes took the lead after eight minutes when they produced a good passage of play that started with a great break by Welding and ended in Jon Dunbar unselfishly passing to Tom Biggs for the try with the line in front of him. Hinton was just off target with the conversion but the Tykes led 5-0.
Leeds continued to press but they were made to pay for not taking their chances when winger Danny Smith intercepted a loose pass by Jonny Hepworth and raced 70 metres to score between the posts. Shuttleworth added the conversion to give Otley the lead for the first time after 28 minutes.
That try seemed to stun Leeds into action and they made sure they got across the whitewash on their next visit to the Otley territory. Good work by the forwards ensured quick ball and Rhys Oakley threw a dummy before going through a gap to score. Hinton added the conversion from wide out to make it 12-7 at half time.
Leeds made the worse possible start to the second half as they allowed Otley, who were twice reduced to 14 men for persistent penalties in a niggly game, to equalise three minutes into the half when a scrappy passage of play ended with a cross field kick from Shuttleworth, the ball passage kindly for Xavier Andre to evade Biggs and the winger stretched for the line. Shuttleworth was off target with the conversion so the game was level at 12-12.
However, Leeds once again upped a gear and Tom Biggs retook the lead after a good, direct run by Welding through the line. He found Hinton who released Biggs for the score.
The bonus point was secured on the hour mark through a penalty try after Otley were penalised on three occasions at a scrum on their own line. Hinton converted both to make it 26-12.
The Tykes were in control now and a great break by Jacob Rauluni created the next try after 67 minutes. He burst through the line, drew the last man then passed Andy Tuilagi to score. Hinton converted to make it 33-12.
Leeds continued to put on the pressure even with the win secured and their pressure paid off when Paul Mooney threw out a long pass in midfield which was intercepted by Richard Welding, who scampered away to score between the posts. Hinton converted to make the final score 40-12.
Otley: Monks, Andre, Pattison, Mooney, Smith, Shuttleworth, Brown, Turner, Steele, Wederall, Parr, Williams, Tiffany, Bland, Hyde
Replacements: Trethewey for Wederall (62), Sayers for Steele (62), Back for Tiffany (76), Stockdale for Bland (66), Whitehead for Parr (76), Benson for Shuttleworth (76), Chivers for Brown (62)
Leeds: Hinton, Welding, Hepworth, Snyman, Biggs, Vasey, Edwards, MacDonald, Rawlinson, Noon, Hooper, Myall, Dunbar, Schusterman, Oakley
Replacements: Paul for MacDonald (67), Parkes for Rawlinson (67), Bouza for Myall (67), Lock for Schusterman (60), Rauluni for Edwards (47), Tuilagi for Snyman (57), T Rock for Biggs (60)
Referee: Dale Newitt