National Conference round-up: March 15th
PREMIER DIVISION
LOCK LANE moved to the top of the table following a 35-24 victory over LEIGH MINERS RANGERS.
Scrum-half Danny Rowse was in fine form with the boot as he landed five goals and a field-goal, whilst the home sides tries came from Thomas Wood, Nathan Fozzard, Chris Siddons, Craig Duncan, Adam Garlick and Jordan Siddons.
Leigh – who trailed 10-6 at the break – slipped to a second defeat in three games despite touchdowns from Kieron Eccleston (2), Jonny Youds and Aaron Gorton. Adam Thomason improved each effort.
HUNSLET WARRIORS battled their way past SKIRLAUGH to pick up their first points of the campaign.
The home sides 22-10 win came thanks to a dominant second half performance which saw them cross for two converted tries after the sides were locked at 10-10 at half-time.
Lloyd Templeton and James Baker were the men claim the second half tries as full-back Gary McClleland landed the extras to complete his three-goal haul.
Johnny Dawson and Chris Hartley were the Warriors try scorers in the first half, although Ben Peterson and Ross Kemp – who added a conversion – kept the visitors in the contest.
WIGAN ST JUDES were another side to get their season up and running as they ran out 38-26 winners over EAST HULL.
Winger Gareth Thomas led the way for St Judes with a hat-trick of tries and a couple of goals, whilst his centre partner Scott Robinson wasn’t far behind with a brace of tries and three conversions.
Stephen King and Brett Taberner also joined the home sides scorers list, but defeat was hard on Easts, especially Lee Steward who crossed for a 12 minute hat-trick either side of the break.
Chris Lyth and Sam Cator also touched down for the visitors but despite three goals from Lewis Straw they came up short.
Premier Division
Hunslet Warriors 22 v 10 Skirlaugh
Lock Lane 35 v 24 Leigh Miners Rangers
Wigan St Judes 38 v 26 East Hull
DIVISION ONE
OULTON RAIDERS continue to lead the way in Division One following their 36-20 win at MILLOM.
The Raiders had seven different try scorers and produced an accomplished performance which saw them race into a 26-6 half-time lead.
Matthew Bullough set the ball rolling with a third minute effort and he was followed over the whitewash by Scott MacDonald, James Cruickshank, Andrew Tillett, Daniel Hardy, Dominic Flanagan and Daniel Mackintosh, whilst stand-off Daniel Stanley landed four goals.
The Cumbrian hosts sole first half points came when Paul Evans converted his own 33rd minute touchdown, and they got some consolation in the second half thanks to tries from Chris Warren, Ethan Kelly and Daniel White, one of which Evans improved.
ECCLES got the better of MYTON WARRIORS in a high-scoring encounter which saw then run out 38-28 winners.
Eze Harper, Richard Openshaw and Jayden Lund all crossed twice, whilst Michael Carney – who also kicked three goals – and two conversions from Jordan Parker completed the scoring for the home side.
The Warriors had led slender 18-16 lead at the break but couldn’t hold on as the search for their first points of the season goes on.
Stand-off Nathan Slater crossed for a hat-trick and centre Ash James landed four goals. The other points came from tries to Kris Walker and Richard Dunham.
ROCHDALE MAYFIELD tacked up 11 tries in their 64-28 drubbing of DEWSBURY CELTIC.
Aiden Gleeson enjoyed a productive afternoon with a 20-point haul – a try and eight goals – whilst Sam Butterworth was on target with the boot twice.
Jack Sampson, Ieuan Higgs, Matt Calland (2), Robert Kershaw, Todd O’Brien, Simon Moore, Callum Marriott and Joe Qauninci were the men to grab the four-pointers.
Celtic – who trailed 28-10 at the mid-way point – were thankful to Pat Foulstone for two tries and four goals. Other Celtic players to cross the line were Daniel Samuel, Thomas Kilroy and Joshua West.
SADDLEWORTH RANGERS maintained their good start to the season with a 26-18 home win over SHAW CROSS SHARKS.
Daniel Flowers goaled first half efforts from Jordan Ward, Jack Gledhill and Sam Ottewell as the Sharks opened up an 18-12 half-time advantage but that proved to be as good as it got for the Dewsbury outfit.
Matthew Fogarty and Adam Walker claimed first half efforts for the home side as Michael Coates landed the first two of his five goal haul, but in the second period Saddleworth really hit their straps and powered home thanks to converted scores from Simon Parrish and Jonathan Horton, plus a Coates penalty.
Division One
Eccles 38 v 28 Myton Warriors
Millom 20 v 36 Oulton Raiders
Rochdale Mayfield 64 v 28 Dewsbury Celtic
Saddleworth Rangers 26 v 18 Shaw Cross Sharks
DIVISION TWO
STANLEY RANGERS hit the front in Division Two thanks to a 28-16 victory over BRADFORD DUDLEY HILL.
Stand-off Danny Grice was instrumental in Rangers success with two tries and four goals, as Daniel Asquith, Joel Marsh and James Senkiw all went over to make it three wins from as many games.
The visitors were 24-12 adrift at half-time and finished with tries to Anthony Lawton, Gavin Mezals and Kyle Hunt. Simon Sewell and Andy Robinson added a goal apiece.
ELLAND crossed for five tries in the final 10 minutes to run out 42-10 winners over CASTLEFORD PANTHERS.
Joe Fradgley, Ben Bottomley, Jorge Fairbank, Chris Dyson and Cayci Pearson all crossed in the late flurry with Pearson also landing the last of his five goals.
Luke Read and Richard Crawshaw (2) claimed the earlier touchdowns for the hosts, as a spirited Panthers side hit back with efforts from Nathan Campsill and Matthew Bacon, the first of which James Clarkson.
OVENDEN did just enough to get past STANNINGLEY 30-18.
Joshua Roberts (2), Tom Sharp and Bradley Cox supplied the Stanningley tries and Russ Cartmell landed a conversion, however, it was not enough to stop them slipping to a defeat which meant they went bottom of the table.
The Halifax-based visitors had Niall Brady booting five goals, Jason Dodd claiming a brace, and other tries coming courtesy of Matthew Turner, Sean Dyson and Martin Mullen.
WATERHEAD produced a great defensive display to claim a 15-0 win over ASKAM.
The Oldham side led 10-0 at half-time thanks to tries from Andy Gorey and Kieran Grennan, with James Mayall adding a conversion.
Chris Hough added all the second half points with a field-goal and last quarter touchdown.
Division Two
Elland 42 v 10 Castleford Panthers
Stanley Rangers 28 v 16 Bradford Dudley Hill
Stanningley 18 v 30 Ovenden
DIVISION THREE
A hat-trick from centre Richard Williams helped FEATHERSTONE LIONS to a 30-18 success at BLACKBROOK.
Matthew Johnson crossed twice and Richard Frankland kicked five goals as the Lions made it three wins from as many games to get their 2014 season off to the best possible start.
Blackbrook – who themselves had opened with back-to-back wins – led 12-10 at the break but couldn’t hold on.
Scott Davidson, Aaron Hewitt and Thomas Cuningham all went over in the first half before Greg Hale added another effort in the second period. Scrum-half Jordan Welsby improved the final effort.
COVENTRY BEARS and HEWORTH played out an entertaining 26-26 draw.
The visitors trailed 26-14 but stormed back to take a share of the spoils in an entertaining encounter.
Mark Hayes grabbed the crucial late score to complete his hat-trick, whilst Danny Allan’s three goals provided vital.
George Wilkinson and Joshua Poulter were the men to claim the other Heworth four-pointers.
The Bears had try scorers in Alex Brown, Daniel Poulton (2) and Matt Cooper. Stephen Coleman was on target with five conversions.
WOOLSTON ROVERS battled their way past EASTMOOR DRAGONS to record a 14-6 win.
The hosts were limited to a Jamie Gollings try and James Slater conversion as the search for their opening points continues.
Lewis Stockton (2) and James Rosson picked up the tries for Woolston and Daniel O’Brien landed a second half penalty.
UNDERBANK RANGERS were far too good for HINDLEY as they ran out comfortable winners by 64-12.
The back-row provided seven of the home side 12 tries with David Pawson (3), Samuel Rochford (2) and Matt Adam (2) all impressing.
Alex Chatterton, Neil Barrett – who also added eight goals – James Usher, Daniel Farrand and Courtney Allette also touched down.
The visitors claimed some consolation with a second half brace from Luke Belshaw, both of which were improved by Andrew Wright.
CROSFIELDS good start to the campaign continued with a 46-16 victory on the road at WIGAN ST CUTHBERTS.
The home side were limited to a brace from Ryan Ashall, a late effort from Earl Hurst and two Declan Riley goals, whilst the visitors crossed for nine tries.
Ashley Cornelia, Nathan Hamilton and Chris Burgess all scored twice as Ian Boden, Lewis Bani and Jonathan Rigby all joined in on the try scoring.
Jack Reid (4) and Cornelia added the extras.
Division Three
Blackbrook 18 v 30 Featherstone Lions
Coventry Bears 26 v 26 Heworth
Eastmoor Dragons 6 v 14 Woolston Rovers
Underbank Rangers 64 v 12 Hindley
Wigan St Cuthberts 16 v 46 Crosfields