Kingstone Press Cider National Conference League round-up
PREMIER DIVISION
LEIGH MINERS RANGERS are on the brink of finishing as League Leaders after a battling 20-18 victory at EAST LEEDS.
Stand-off Nathan Conroy converted his own 12th minute score to give the home side an early lead, but by the break the visitors had opened up a 14-6 advantage thanks to tries from stand-off Jimmy Muir and Martin Gray, plus two conversions and a penalty from centre Jonny Youds.
Loose-forward Tom Farrimond crashed over just before the hour-mark with Youds again improving, but to their credit Easts battled back to make it a tense finish.
Lee Fisher’s touchdown cut the gap to 10 points with 20 minutes left to play, before scrum-half Tom Sheldrake stepped his way over for an effort than Conroy improved.
However, the table-toppers held their nerve and closed out the game to get within touching distance of a first-place finish in the regular season.
WATH BROW HORNEST now occupy the final play-off spot thanks to a 28-18 win at LOCK LANE.
Winger Connor Turner crossed for the home sides opening try after 18 minutes but they had to wait until a brace from loose-forward Jordan Siddons in the final nine minutes to get over the whitewash again.
Scrum-half Danny Rowse landed three goals for the hosts but they now find themselves just two points clear of the relegation places with just two games remaining.
The Hornets led 14-8 at half-time thanks to tries from Charlie Tomlinson and Rhys Pritchard and two of stand-off Fran Kings four-goal haul.
They then closed out the win with converted second period efforts from King and full-back Peter Caddy. Hooker Cole Walker-Taylor also chipped in with a goal in each half.
EGREMONT RANGERS are just two points clear of the drop-zone after a 44-24 defeat at OULTON RAIDERS.
Despite being already relegated the Raiders picked up just their fourth win of the season thanks to touchdowns from Clayton Stott, Andrew Williamson and Declan Storey.
However, their standout performances came from stand-off Thomas Griffiths – a hat-trick – and loose-forward Dom Flanagan who racked up a 20-point haul with two tries and six goals.
The Cumbrian visitors – who were 22-12 down at the interval – finished with two tries apiece to centre Ross Brookes and hooker Daniel Telford, with Brookes improving each effort.
A four-try display from centre Matt Calland helped ROCHDALE MAYFIELD cruise to a 48-18 triumph over HULL DOCKERS.
Declan Sheridan, Dave Woods, Liam Whalley and Lewis Sheridan (2) also added their names to the score sheet, with scrum-half Sam Butterworth completing their points tally with six goals.
The game was in the balance as the hour-mark approached but the visitors slipped to defeat despite four-pointers from centre Ross Kemp (2) and loose-forward Nick Powley, with the former improving each effort.
SIDDAL ran in 10 tries as they crushed THATTO HEATH CRUSADERS 56-18.
Centre Freddie Walker helped himself to a hat-trick and prop Tom Garratt touched down twice as the home side dominated the second half having trailed 12-10 at the break.
Gareth Blackburn, Shaun Garrod, Richard Merville, Daniel Williams and George Ambler claimed the other home touchdowns with winger Gavin Stead booting eight goals.
The visitors looked to be in with a shout of collecting a much-needed win thanks to efforts from hooker Sean Kenny and winger Louise Taylor, but couldn’t hold on with their cause not helped by two second half sin-binnings.
Adam Hesketh did grab a consolation effort as Sean Quinn landed his third goal.
WEST HULL boosted their chances of avoiding the drop with nerve-jangling 23-22 win over WIGAN ST PATRICKS.
The champions are still in the last relegation spot but are just two points behind Lock Lane and Egremont Rangers with a game in hand.
With his side trailing by five points in the final minute winger Tyler Spence crossed in the corner, but full-back Brad Smith failed with the conversion attempt to give Wests the crucial win.
Smith – who also kicked three goals – Simon Atherton and Marlon Alker crossed for the other home tries.
Wests – who led 16-10 at the break – saw Dylan Price (2) and Ian Kerman land the goals and scrum-half Danny Nicklas kick the vital field-goal.
Josh Nicklin, Brett Turner, Ryan Wilson and James Garmston all crossed in the important contest.
Saturday September 19
East Leeds 18 v 20 Leigh Miners Rangers
Lock Lane 18 v 28 Wath Brow Hornets
Oulton Raiders 44 v 24 Egremont Rangers
Rochdale Mayfield 48 v 18 Hull Dockers
Siddal 56 v 18 Thatto Heath Crusaders
West Hull 23 v 22 Wigan St Patricks
DIVISION ONE
ELLAND powered past SADDLEWORTH RANGERS 42-6 to ease the relegation fears.
Ben Whitehead goaled Jack Bradbury’s early effort to give Saddleworth a flying start, but that proved to their only scoring act despite holding on to lead 6-2 at the break.
Thomas Harnett led the recovery with a hat-trick, whilst David Webb, Alex Milburn, Cayci Pearson and Bradley Radcliffe also crossed and Phil Taylor booted seven goals.
SALFORD CITY ROOSTERS are on the brink of relegation following a 36-26 defeat at HUNSLET WARRIORS.
Tom Smith and Andrew Muscat both claimed a brace, whilst Joe Connor also crossed and Bradley White landed three goals for the defeated Roosters who cannot slip up in any of their remaining games.
The Warriors – who now sit fourth in the table – were in control for most of the contest and finished with four-pointers from Gary McClelland (2) – who also kicked four goals – Lee West (2), Dave Norton, Caldon Bravo and Chris Hartley.
Tyrone Dalton helped himself to a hat-trick as KELLS overcame MYTON WARRIORS 30-18.
Nathan Doran, Lewis Wilson and Scott Lofthouse also touched down for the league leaders, with Ben Milburn (2) and Ross Gainford adding the extras.
Ash James scored a try and added two goals for the visitors, Lee James and Anthony Wheeldon also touched down and Kris Walker added a conversion.
NORMANTON KNIGHTS staged a great comeback to battle past MILFORD MARLINS 32-26.
The Knights found themselves 22-6 behind, but roared back to win thanks to tries from Connor Taylor (2), Connor Wilson (2), Ryan Kelsey and Clark Thompson, plus four Adie Mulcahy goals.
Gareth Fairhead spearheaded Milford’s reply with a try and three goals, with other efforts coming from John Elkington, Dave Warren, Macauley Barron and Sean Mulligan.
Second-placed PILKINGTON RECS eased to a 36-8 win over YORK ACORN.
The visitors were limited to touchdowns from James Montford and Jake Calam, but that was never going to be enough to halt a Pilks side that were 24-4 to the good by half-time.
Danny Lynch – two tries and six goals – was in top form for Pilks with a 20-point display, whilst other four-pointers went to Kyran Knapper, Ryan Hilliard, Andrew Nesbit and Ian Stanley.
SHAW CROSS SHARKS came out on top 40-28 in a high-scoring clash with INCE ROSE BRIDGE.
Danny Flowers converted six of the Sharks touchdowns which came from Greg Wilby, Andy Burland, Robbie Byatt, Jack Gledhill, James Davis, Will Poaching and Ross Roebuck.
Ince were 22-10 down at the break and slipped to defeat despite efforts from Jamie Malone (2), Ryan Eccleston, Kenny Baker – who also added four goals – and Nathan Doherty.
WIGAN ST JUDES recorded just their third win of the campaign as they outscored SKIRLAUGH 46-32.
Gavin Roden crossed for a hat-trick and there were tries for Nathan Jones, Ty Forde, Tom Owen, Darion Ball and Dean Hunt, with Gareth Thomas chipping in with seven goals for the already relegated hosts.
Stu Smith crossed twice for the visitors who could not make up the 18-12 half-time deficit.
James Higginbotham, Harvey Gotts, Ted Carter and James Potter also crossed the whitewash, whilst there were two goals each for Carl Puckering and Lee Waterman.
Saturday September 19
Elland 42 v 6 Saddleworth Rangers
Hunslet Warriors 36 v 26 Salford City Roosters
Kells 30 v 18 Myton Warriors
Normanton Knights 32 v 26 Milford Marlins
Pilkington Recs 36 v 8 York Acorn
Shaw Cross Sharks 40 v 28 Ince Rose Bridge
Wigan St Judes 46 v 32 Skirlaugh
DIVISION TWO
MILLOM clinched promotion to Division One next season after winning 28-14 at STANLEY RANGERS.
Ricky Donoghue (2), Warwick Carter, Chris Warren and Tom Sibley crossed, with four goals from the boot of Paul Evans completing the job.
Joel Marsh, Lee Brickwood and Liam Crawley crossed for a home side which actually led 10-0 at one stage, whilst Danny Duce landed a conversion.
BLACKBROOK slipped to an 18-10 home defeat to DEWSBURY CELTIC.
The hosts scored the first and last tries through Jimmy Brown and Jordan Darwin, one of which was improved by Stephen Parkinson.
However, in between times Celtic recorded a Josh Knowles brace, a try and goal from Pat Foulstone and a Thomas Halloran effort.
FEATHERSTONE LIONS are almost certain of promotion following a high-scoring 34-28 victory over visiting BRADFORD DUDLEY HILL.
Ian Jackson improved five of the efforts by Kev Eadie (2), Gaz Gale, Danny Glasell, Reece Dyas and Matty Johnson as the Lions did just enough to see off a determined Hill outfit.
Damon Smith led the Hill reply with a brace which added to other four-pointers from Anthony Lawton, Neil Wall and Aiden Batey.
Simon Sewell booted four goals.
Adam Holland starred as LEIGH EAST cruised to a 46-12 home win over OLDHAM ST ANNES.
The half-back crossed for a try and landed seven goals as his side picked up win number 12 of the season.
Lee Rowley, Josh Adudwumaa (2), Curtis Littlewood, Martin Roden, Daniel Grainey and Craig Wingfield also touched down for the hosts who closed out the game after building a 24-4 half-time lead.
Billy Barnes improved a brace from Dominic Bryan for the Saints.
Saturday September 19
Blackbrook 10 v 18 Dewsbury Celtic
Featherstone Lions 34 v 28 Bradford Dudley Hill
Leigh East 46 v 12 Oldham St Annes
Stanley Rangers 14 v 28 Millom
DIVISION THREE
WOOLSTON ROVERS ended the unbeaten run of HUNSLET CLUB PARKSIDE winning 22-21.
Jamie Fields field-goal edged the visitors 17-16 ahead, but after going behind they missed the opportunity to win it when Fields failed to improve Luke Medley’s late effort.
Earlier Fields had improved two of the tries which arrived via Mark Stubley, Luke O’Malley and Craig McShane.
Billy Maunder, Justin Becher and Will Maudsley crossed for Woolston, with Chris Twigg on target with three goals.
THORNHILL TROJANS promotion was confirmed with a narrow 22-18 win on the road at CROSFIELDS.
Mindugas Bendikas crossed twice in the win, with Liam Morley – who also kicked two goals – and Joel Gibson also touching down.
The home side were 12-10 in front at the break but couldn’t hold despite two tries and three goals from Jack Reid and another effort from Nathan Taylor.
DRIGHLINGTON ran in 11 tries to power past WATERHEAD WARRIORS 62-12.
Jamie Mayall improved his own effort and one from Alex Jobson for the Warriors in the first half, but by the break they were already 34-12 down.
Martyn Reilly and Nathan Larvin led the Drig points scoring with a brace each, with Josh Milnes on target with nine goals.
Ben Nabozny, Keiron Roche, Adam Newton, Ryan Burton, Jake Dearden, Dan Sanderson and Steve McIntyre all added their names to the scorers list.
GATESHEAD STORM moved above WIBSEY WARRIORS after beating the Bradford-based side 32-16.
The home side were just 12-6 ahead at the mid-way point but recorded their fifth win of the season with a six-try showing.
Jon Adamson, James Pocklington (2), Scott Woods, Gregg Newlands and Luke Banham claimed the Storm four-pointers with the extras coming via Jon Mason (3) and Stephen Welton.
Wibsey headed back home having seen Mark Darragh, Daniel Conroy and Luke Helliwell cross the line and Kane Gray adding a couple of conversions.
A brace apiece for Josh Tate and Jackson Green helped STANNINGLEY see off West Yorkshire rivals DEWSBURY MOOR MAROONS 28-10.
Jack Brown also touched down and Callum Smithson added four goals as the Leeds-based picked up win number 11 of the season.
Moor replied with a try and goal from Jacob Flathers and a George Croisdale effort.
Saturday September 19
Crosfields 18 v 22 Thornhill Trojans
Drighlington 62 v 12 Waterhead Warriors
Gateshead Storm 32 v 16 Wibsey Warriors
Stanningley 28 v 10 Dewsbury Moor
Woolston Rovers 22 v 21 Hunslet Club Parkside