League 1 round-up: Newcastle show promotion credentials, Brambani inspires Hunslet & Rochdale begin with victory

James Messenger 08 Mar 2020 6:00 PM

Four sides kept their 100% records in tact after round two of Betfred League 1 action.

Newcastle showed their promotion credentials with a tight 30-22 win against Workington.

Kieran Gill crossed twice for Simon Finnigan’s side, while there were further scores for Adam Lawton, Ashley Gibson and Reece Dean. The visitors crossed four times courtest of Andrew Dawson, Carl Forber, Jamie Doran and Alex Young.

Rochdale opened up their 2020 campaign with a 29-14 victory at home to Keighley.

The Hornets crossed twice in each half through Andy Lea, Jamie Tracey, Liam Whalley and Sam Hopkins. Sam Freeman also added 12 points from the boot, while debutant Martyn Ridyard added a drop-goal shortly after the hour mark.

Barrow recorded their second win of the season in emphatic style against Coventry.

The hosts were already 44-0 ahead by the time Liam Welham scored Coventry’s only try of the game on 58 minutes. Nevertheless, Daniel Toal crossed for his second of the game, five minutes from time, to wrap up a comprehensive 50-6 win for Paul Crarey’s men.

Another side extended their unbeaten start to the season were Hunslet, who ran out 29-6 victors at home to North Wales.

Dominic Brambani scored two tries, four goals and a drop-goal in a 17-point haul. There were further scores for Duane Straugheir, Jordan Andrade and Harvey Hallas.

In the final game of the round, Doncaster recorded a 50-10 victory at home to West Wales.

Sam Doherty scored five times for the hosts, with Brad Foster, Ross Peltier and Kieran Cross also troubling the scoreboard. Dai Evans and Robert Matamosi grabbed late consolations for the Welsh side.

League 1 round 2 results:

Barrow Raiders 50-6 Coventry Bears

Doncaster 50-10 West Wales Raiders

Hunslet 29-6 North Wales Crusaders

Newcastle Thunder 30-22 Workington Town

Rochdale Hornets 29-14 Keighley Cougars