National Conference League Round-up – Week 2
PREMIER DIVISION
EGREMONT RANGERS ground out a 12-6 win over LOCK LANE as both sides battled against the conditions.
Danny Rowse converted Paul Brown’s 22nd minute try to give the West Yorkshire-based visitors the lead, however, the home side were level by the break thanks to a try and goal from John Paul Brocklebank.
In a hard-fought second period Brocklebank improved a touchdown from hooker Daniel Telford as the Cumbrians claimed their second win.
RESULTS
Saturday March 9
Egremont Rangers 12 v 6 Lock Lane
DIVISION ONE
WIGAN ST JUDES moved to the top of the table following a 14-12 win over BRADFORD DUDLEY HILL.
The home side came out on top despite having Ryan Ainscough dismissed, with Gareth Thomas the match-winner thanks to his three goals.
Tom Owen and Sean O’Grady touched down for St Judes and Dudley Hill had efforts from Nathan Kitson and Kenny Smith.
Crucially Kitson could only add two goals as the hosts held on for win number two of the season.
Matthew Fogarty and Josh Brown both helped themselves to hat-tricks as WATERHEAD cruised to a 44-16 win over ECCLES.
Ashley Wildman (2) and Alan Williamson added further scores for the Oldham outfit whilst four goals from Michael Diveney completed their points haul.
Eccles has to settle for a try and two goals from Andrew Muscat, plus further tries from Marc Gillingham and Eze Harper.
ROCHDALE MAYFIELD hit back from 12-0 down to see off MILLOM 16-12.
Tries from Lee Edmondson and Anthony Green crossed early on and Ross Brookes improved both to give the Wollybacks the advantage.
However, that was as good as it got as Mayfield roared back to take the spoils.
Mitch Spackman, Aiden Gleeson and Simon Moore all touched down. Conversions from Sam Butterworth and Gleeson sealing the victory.
HUNSLET WARRIORS proved too strong for STANLEY RANGERS as they ran out 24-10 winners.
Tries to Connor Spencer and Adam Smith eased the hosts into a 12-4 interval lead, with Stanley keeping in touch thanks to a try from winger Joel Marsh.
A Kyle Sampton touchdown and conversion from Danny Grice closed the gap just 10 minutes into the second period, but Hunslet finished the stronger with a Caldon Bravo effort as Gary McClelland completed his four goal haul.
RESULTS
Saturday March 9
Hunslet Warriors 24 v 10 Stanley Rangers
Rochdale Mayfield 16 v 12 Millom
Waterhead 44 v 16 Eccles
Wigan St Judes 14 v 12 Bradford Dudley Hill
DIVISION TWO
SHAW CROSS SHARKS are the early pacesetters in Division Two following their 10-2 win at ELLAND.
A Philip Taylor penalty gave the Halifax-based hosts an early lead, but the Sharks were 4-2 ahead by half-time after a touchdown from Ryan Glynn.
Shaun Squires converted his own 60th minute effort to increase the visitors lead and that proved to be the final scoring act as both sides battled against the heavy pitch.
NORMANTON KNIGHTS returned from WIDNES WEST BANK with the points following a 2012 success.
In a bad-tempered game – which saw three red cards and a sin-binning – Dave Evans (2) and Jordan Ratcliffe scored for the Knights whilst the boots of Adrian Mulcahy (3) and Tom Henderson tagged on the extras.
The home side responded with touchdowns from Jack White and Ryan Millington which were both improved by Tony Arrowsmith.
OLDHAM ST ANNES produced a great defensive display as they beat CASTLEFORD PANTHERS 20-0.
Terry Whaley dived over in the corner to give them the lead before a try in each half from Niall Collins underlined the supremacy.
Jordan White also went over in the second period whilst two goals from Lee Forsyth concluded the scoring.
RESULTS
Saturday March 9
Elland 2 v 10 Shaw Cross Sharks
Oldham St Annes 20 v 0 Castleford Panthers
Widnes West Bank 12 v 20 Normanton Knights
DIVISION THREE
PILKINGTON RECS ground out an impressive 12-6 at UNDERBANK RANGERS to make it two wins from two.
Andy Knapper converted efforts from Ryan Rogers and Kyran Knapper to give Pilks a 12-0, and the hosts only response came three minutes from time as Andy Boothroyd touched down and Neil Barrett added the extras.
KELLS returned to Cumbria boosted by a 28-6 at HEWORTH.
Ben Milburn, Connor Holiday (2), Scott Lotfhouse, Lewis Smith and Chris Highton were the men to touchdown, whilst the boot of Ryan Robb contributed a couple of goals.
Heworth managed a late consolation try from Adam Jones which Leigh Rientoul improved.
PETERLEE PUMAS put in an improved showing at home to WOOLSTON ROVERS but it still wasn’t enough as they went down 56-6.
Paul Flynn converted Oliver Brown’s try to give the Pumas some reward, but they couldn’t hold Woolston for long as the Warrington outfit powered clear.
Ryan Cosgrove, Ryan Jones, Scott Davidson and Ben Moores all grabbed two tries, while John Welsh and Billy Maunder also crossed the line and Daniel O’Brien chipped in with eight goals.
A great contest between CROSFIELDS and COVENTRY BEARS ended all square at 16-16.
A Matt Turner try and Steve Coleman’s second goal with just 10 minutes left looked to have won it for the Bears, however, the home side snatched a point as Nathan Hamilton crashed over and Jack Reid improved matters.
Earlier in the contest Reid and Hamilton had crossed for Crosfields – the former kicking a goal – while Coventry had opened with efforts from Coleman and Ryan Going. Coleman converting his own score.
A try seven minutes into injury time from Rob Bailey – converted by Andy Wright – helped HINDLEY beat local rivals WIGAN ST CUTHBERTS 24-22.
Andy Wright kicked his second goal to give his side a late win as they battled back from eight points adrift to claim the win.
Paul Atherton went over to kick-start the revival while Kieran Whittle (2) and Bailey had touched down as Hindley moved into a 14-6 lead early in the second period.
Brett Taberner grabbed a brace for St Cuthberts, while Simon Meehan helped himself to a try and three goals and Craig Ashall also crossed.
RESULTS
Saturday March 9
Crosfields 16 v 16 Coventry Bears
Heworth 6 v 28 Kells
Peterlee Pumas 6 v 56 Woolston Rovers
Underbank Rangers 6 v 12 Pilkington Recs
Wigan St Cuthberts 22 v 24 Hindley