WEST HULL laid down a real marker for the PREMIER DIVISION League Leaders’ Trophy by prevailing 36-10 at second-placed WATERHEAD WARRIORS.
The Green and Golds, who boast a 100 percent winning record, are now eight points clear of Hunslet ARLFC, who eased above Waterhead into second spot through a comfortable victory over West Bowling.
West Hull opened with a try on four minutes for Jack Lazenby before the hosts, who were seeking to extend a twelve-match unbeaten run, levelled on ten minutes through a Harrison Dodd touchdown.
Dodd, however, was yellow carded on the half-hour for a high tackle and the visitors, who had edged Waterhead 24-16 in Hull, duly established a 16-4 interval lead with tries by Josh Wood and Eligh Wilkinson, both of which Jack Sanderson improved.
The visitors nosed further in front three minutes after the restart, Sanderson converting Elliott Jones’ score.
And although the Oldham outfit hit back as the hour beckoned with a James Perks try and a Kegan Brennan conversion, Wests had the better of the final quarter with touchdowns by Sanderson and Jones, the former adding three more goals.
HUNSLET ARLFC registered a fourth successive victory with a 46-6 triumph over WEST BOWLING, who have lost their last four games and are now five points shy of the top-six play-off berths.
Craig McShane shot over in the first minute for the home side, who had edged the issue 34-28 in Bradford, and Tyler Dargan bagged a brace by the opening period’s midway point, Harry Shackleton landing the first two of his seven goals to help establish a 16-0 lead.
Bowling’s prospects were further hit when Danny Gregory copped a yellow card on 24 minutes for a professional foul. By the time he returned, the home side were 28-0 up, Jack McShane and Josh McLelland having crossed.
Ben Shulver charged in just before half-time, but Wests reduced the arrears to 34-6 ten minutes after the restart, Harry Williams converting Lewis Camden’s touchdown.
The visitors, however, were unable to make the most of the sinbinnings of Hunslet ARLFC’s Danny Rowse and Jack McShane on 57 and 63 minutes respectively, both for dissent.
Indeed the hosts posted a try by Shackleton as Rowse returned, and the south Leeds side duly closed in style with a last-gasp Harry Dodd effort.
Rowse, meanwhile, has confirmed that Shackleton was the man who kicked seven goals in the 30-0 win at Wigan St Judes on Saturday, July 25.
The veteran was incorrectly credited with the goals in the match report submitted to League Express but Rowse, who had returned to the club in a coaching capacity but who was persuaded to once more put on his boots, said: “It was Harry. We don’t look alike but I’ll take it!”
SIDDAL, who topped the National Conference League in 2024 and 2025 but missed out in each Grand Final (to Hunslet ARLFC and West Hull) are showing championship form and, after three wins on the trot, remain in fourth after gaining revenge for the 26-14 defeat in Halifax by winning 38-14 at WIGAN ST JUDES.
Judes, who have lost three of their last four fixtures, are two points adrift of sixth-placed Wath Brow but have played one more game.
Siddal were 10-0 up inside the first seven minutes, thanks to tries by Reece Hamlett and Harvey Williams, who landed the first of his seven goals.
Reece McNally crossed for the Saints midway through the opening period, but Siddal cruised to a 28-4 interval lead through converted touchdowns by Jamie Greenwood, Noah Lawton and Ed Barber.
The Wigan side had the better of the third quarter, tries by McNally and Calum Palmer – plus a Danny Cassidy goal – pegging Siddal back to 14 points.
But the visitors were not to be denied and sealed victory with two penalty-goals by Williams, who also converted Christian Ackroyd’s late touchdown.
WATH BROW HORNETS, who are targeting a place in the play-offs, avoided a third successive defeat with a 62-6 win at bottom side ROCHDALE MAYFIELD.
Hornets, who had won 42-0 in Cumbria, were 36-0 ahead at the break, thanks to tries by Jake Moore, Nat Dougan, Sam Curwen, Karl Dixon, Devan Sharp and Conrad Dockwray, with Curwen adding five conversions and, after Mayfield’s Jo Taira had been sin-binned on 37 minutes for a late tackle, a penalty-goal.
Morgan McCourt nipped over five minutes after the restart and, following a yellow card for Mayfield’s Andy Taylor (for dissent) Kaleb Crosby crossed twice.
Mayfield were hit, ten minutes from time, by a concussion injury for Guillaume Reffre, whose head hit the floor, but nevertheless the hosts’ David Mills immediately goaled his own try.
Wath Brow, though, went on to notch late touchdowns for Jake Greenough and Connor Molyneaux, with Curwen completing a nine-goal contribution.
DIVISION ONE leaders KELLS, who had swept to a 74-18 win over PILKINGTON RECS in Cumbria, completed a double with a 46-20 victory in St Helens.
The Miners, in winning their fifth successive match (relegation-threatened Pilks have lost their last five) led 34-6 at the interval, with the help of by Jacob Hodgson (twice), Aaron Burns, Harry Watson, Ryan Watson and Grant Gainford.
Pilks, who had replied through Josh O’Connell, opened the second period with an Aidyn Jones try and closed it with touchdowns for Lewis Caine and Ben O’Connell, with Tom Connick adding his second conversion.
But in between, Kells stayed out of sight with tries by Finn Miller and Dan Grears, with Ross Gainford booting the last two of his seven goals.
DEWSBURY MOOR MAROONS are only a point behind inactive second-placed Dewsbury Celtic, thanks to a 24-10 success at EGREMONT RANGERS, who had been accounted for 52-18 in Yorkshire.
The Cumbrians led 10-4 at the break, having responded to Taylor Russell’s early try with touchdowns by Connor Williams and James Messenger, the first of which Joe Lewis improved.
The Maroons, though, dominated the second period, posting a sixth successive win (and inflicting a third defeat on the trot on Rangers) with unanswered tries for Tareeq Garrick, George Woodcock, James Samme and, after Egremont’s Williams had been red carded on 77 minutes for an alleged shoulder charge, Greg Colbridge, with Louie Walker landing a couple of goals.
Two unanswered tries by Ewan Hasty, on 68 and 75 minutes, helped EAST LEEDS break a 16-16 deadlock to beat WIGAN ST PATRICKS 24-16.
Pats, who had prevailed 24-20 at Clarington Park, went in front through Phil Glover’s conversion of Lewis Armstrong’s try midway through the first half, only for play-offs aspirants Easts to go in at the break 16-6 ahead courtesy of touchdowns for Nehemiah Mensah, Luke Mullen and Kiedan Hartley, two of which Luke Littlewood improved.
Relegation-haunted Pats restored parity by the hour with tries by Glover and Connor Taylor, Glover adding a goal, but were duly condemned to a third successive defeat by Hasty, the nephew of former Easts and professional-game player Phil Hasty.
OULTON RAIDERS, who were twelve points behind with only 15 minutes left, blasted back with three unanswered tries to exact retribution over LEIGH MINERS RANGERS for the 34-16 defeat in Leeds with a 32-24 away triumph.
The Raiders owed their success to a brace apiece for Rhys Swallow and Adrian Holdsworth, while Alfie Hawkhead also dotted down and Archie Craggs landed six goals.
The Miners led through two tries by Will Ashurst and touchdowns for Jack Hamer and Noah Lancelott, plus four Callum Ashurst conversions.
STANNINGLEY, who were only 20-12 ahead at bottom side OLDHAM ST ANNES five minutes into the second period, took a real grip when Logan Temple and Alfie Peach dotted down on 56 and 58 minutes respectively, a Sam Olroyd conversion stretching the lead to 18 points.
Victory was wrapped up against a Saints side who had never been ahead with Owain McLoughlin’s try in the last minute and Olroyd’s sixth goal.
Jacob Morgan (twice) and Dean Parker had crossed earlier for the visitors, who had won 22-10 in west Leeds, while Annes had been in contention through tries by Leo McNally and Richard Pogson, both of which Charlie McManus improved.
Three matches were postponed because of hard pitches caused, in part, by the recent hot weather and lack of rain.
The Premier Division fixtures at Heworth and York Acorn, where Thatto Heath Crusaders and Lock Lane were, respectively, the scheduled visitors, fell victim, as did the Division One derby between Shaw Cross Sharks and Dewsbury Celtic.
Acorn were left kicking their heels for a second successive week, the game against Wath Brow Hornets having been called off because of watering system issues.
The matches at Heworth and Shaw Cross have been put back to this week (Saturday, August 15) while York Acorn’s game with Wath Brow is now scheduled for Saturday, October 3. A new slot has yet to be found for their fixture with Lock Lane.
SCOREBOARD
Wednesday 5 August
CONFERENCE REGIONS
NATIONAL CONFERENCE CUMBRIA: Hindpool Tigers v Distington -nr.
NATIONAL CONFERENCE SOUTH: Hammersmith Hill Hoists 46 Wests Warriors 12.
REGIONS
NORTH WEST MEN’S LEAGUE
DIVISION 2: Orrell St James A 22 Latchford Albion Giants 22.
Friday 7 August
CONFERENCE REGIONS
NATIONAL CONFERENCE NORTH WEST: Clock Face Miners 4 Blackbrook 28.
REGIONS
CUMBRIA MEN’S LEAGUE
PREMIER DIVISION: Flimby Vikings 12 Lowca 58; Kells A 28 Cockermouth Titans 32.
YORKSHIRE MEN’S LEAGUE
DIVISION 3: Dewsbury Moor v Birkenshaw Blue Dogs -nr.
Saturday 8 August
NATIONAL LEAGUE
PREMIER DIVISION
Heworth v Thatto Heath Crusaders – postponed (sunbaked pitch)
Hunslet ARLFC 46 West Bowling 6
Rochdale Mayfield 6 Wath Brow Hornets 62
Waterhead Warriors 10 West Hull 36
Wigan St Judes 14 Siddal 38
York Acorn v Lock Lane – postponed (sunbaked pitch)
DIVISION ONE
East Leeds 24 Wigan St Patricks 16
Egremont Rangers 10 Dewsbury Moor Maroons 24
Leigh Miners Rangers 24 Oulton Raiders 32
Oldham St Annes 12 Stanningley 36
Pilkington Recs 20 Kells 46
Shaw Cross Sharks v Dewsbury Celtic – postponed (sunbaked pitch)
CONFERENCE REGIONS
NATIONAL CONFERENCE CUMBRIA: Distington 14 Hensingham 14; Hindpool Tigers 20 Dalton 46; Maryport v Barrow Island -nr; Millom v Ellenborough Rangers -nr; Ulverston 32 Seaton Rangers 34.
NATIONAL CONFERENCE NORTH WEST: Orrell St James v Ashton Bears -nr; Ince Rose Bridge 50 Crosfields 18; Saddleworth Rangers 28 Leigh East 12.
NATIONAL CONFERENCE SOUTH: Bedford Tigers 46 Eastern Rhinos 10; Bristol All Golds 58 Wests Warriors 16; Hammersmith Hill Hoists 24 Brentwood Eels 0; London Chargers 24 North Herts Crusaders 0.
NATIONAL CONFERENCE YORKSHIRE A: Bradford Dudley Hill 16 Beverley 26; Keighley Albion 26 Drighlington 10; Myton Warriors v Moldgreen -nr; Stanley Rangers v Mirfield Spartans -nr; Thornhill Trojans 50 King Cross Park 26.
NATIONAL CONFERENCE YORKSHIRE B: Fryston Warriors 6 Featherstone Lions 34; Kippax Welfare 18 Newsome Panthers 30; Milford 12 Skirlaugh 32; Normanton Knights 38 Hull Dockers 6; Siddal Academy v Bentley -nr.
REGIONS
CUMBRIA MEN’S LEAGUE
PREMIER DIVISION: Wath Brow Hornets A v Askam -nr.
DIVISION 1: Dalton A 16 Aspatria Hornets 20; Hensingham A 44 Maryport A 20.
LONDON & EAST
CHAMPIONSHIP SEMI-FINAL: Elmbridge Eagles 24 Medway Dragons 8.
MIDLANDS
PREMIER DIVISION: Telford Raiders 24 Coventry Bears 0.
DIVISION 1/MERIT: Peterborough 50 Leamington Royals 36; Staffordshire Quantums 90 North East Worcestershire Ravens 28.
NORTH WEST MEN’S LEAGUE
PREMIER DIVISION: Folly Lane 0 Hindley Stags 54; Halton Farnworth Hornets 36 Westhoughton Lions 4; Heysham Atoms 20 West Bank Bears 38; Waterhead Warriors A 18 Chorley Panthers 22; Wigan St Judes 16 Shevington Sharks 32.
DIVISION 1: Salford City Roosters v Runcorn Highfield -nr; Spring View v Wigan St Cuthberts -nr.
DIVISION 2: Latchford Albion Giants 0 Oldham St Annes A 0; Orrell St James A v Hindley Stags Reserves -nr; Portico Vine 36 Clock Face Miners A 20; Thatto Heath Crusaders Academy 24 Blackpool Scorpions 0.
ENTRY DIVISION: Widnes St Maries 38 Wigan Bulldogs 28; Chorley Panthers A v Blackbrook A -nr; Langworthy Reds v Cadishead Rhinos -nr; Rylands Sharks v Salford City Roosters A -pp; Woolston Rovers A 62 Accrington Wildcats 12.
MERIT DIVISION: West Bank Bears A 34 Culcheth Eagles 22.
YORKSHIRE MEN’S LEAGUE
PREMIER DIVISION: Dodworth Miners 24 Brighouse Rangers 0; Doncaster Toll Bar 24 Newcastle Lightning 0; East Hull 22 Hunslet ARLFC 6.
DIVISION 1: Sharlston Rovers 30 Seacroft Sharks 10; Wibsey Warriors 14 Emley Moor 28; Stainland Stags 12 Upton 26; York Barbarians 24 Birstall Victoria 0.
DIVISION 2: Cutsyke Raiders v Dearne Valley Bulldogs -nr; Derby Elks 28 Lindley St Joseph’s 32; Eastmoor Dragons v Castleford Panthers -pp; West Hull v Goole Vikings -nr.
DIVISION 3: Bramley Buffaloes 60 Drighlington 10; Dewsbury Celtic v Queensbury -nr; Underbank Rangers v Moortown Mambas -nr.
DIVISION 4: Sherburn Bears 46 King Cross Park 6; Newsome Panthers v Batley ARLFC -pp; Hemsworth Dragons 24 Ossett Trinity Tigers Academy 0; Stanningley 68 Keighley Albion 4.
DIVISION 5: Crigglestone All Blacks v Shaw Cross Sharks -nr; Farnley Falcons v Harrogate Hawks -pp; Hull Wyke 50 Methley Warriors 10; New Earswick All Blacks 18 York Acorn 12.
DIVISION 6: Rycroft Hammers v Sheffield Hawks -pp; Garforth Tigers 24 Knottingley Mustangs 0; Guiseley Rangers 6 Moorends Thorne Marauders 94; Moldgreen Rams 16 Milford 56; Rycroft Hammers 24 Sheffield Hawks 0.
DIVISION 7: Boothtown Terriers v York Barbarians A -pp; Woodhouse Warriors 24 Featherstone Lions 0; Clayton v East Leeds -nr.
ENTRY DIVISION: West Bowling Academy 14 Heworth 28; Odsal Sedbergh v Dearne Valley Bulldogs A -pp; Hull Knights v Illingworth -nr; Skirlaugh Academy v Lock Lane -pp.
Fixtures
Wednesday 12 August
CONFERENCE REGIONS
NATIONAL CONFERENCE YORKSHIRE A: Mirfield Spartans v King Cross Park.
NATIONAL CONFERENCE YORKSHIRE B: Fryston Warriors v Normanton Knights.
Thursday 13 August
CONFERENCE REGIONS
NATIONAL CONFERENCE NORTH WEST: Orrell St James v Ashton Bears.
REGIONS
NORTH WEST MEN’S LEAGUE
ENTRY DIVISION: Chorley Panthers A v Blackbrook A.
Friday 14 August
REGIONS
YORKSHIRE MEN’S LEAGUE
DIVISION 6: Moorends Thorne Marauders v Sheffield Hawks.
Saturday 15 August
NATIONAL LEAGUE
PREMIER DIVISION
Heworth v Thatto Heath Crusaders
Lock Lane v Siddal
DIVISION ONE
Dewsbury Moor Maroons v Wigan St Patricks
Shaw Cross Sharks v Dewsbury Celtic
CONFERENCE REGIONS
NATIONAL CONFERENCE CUMBRIA: Ulverston v Barrow Island; Ellenborough v Dalton; Hindpool Tigers v Seaton Rangers.
NATIONAL CONFERENCE NORTH WEST: Clock Face Miners v Ashton Bears.
NATIONAL CONFERENCE SOUTH: Brentwood Eels v Wests Warriors; Hammersmith Hill Hoists v North Herts Crusaders.
NATIONAL CONFERENCE YORKSHIRE A: Thornhill Trojans v Keighley Albion; Bradford Dudley Hill v Stanley Rangers; Mirfield Spartans v Moldgreen.
NATIONAL CONFERENCE YORKSHIRE B: Hull Dockers v Bentley; Siddal Academy v Fryston Warriors; Kippax Welfare v Normanton Knights.
REGIONS
CUMBRIA MEN’S LEAGUE
CUP: Wath Brow Hornets A v Lowca.
TROPHY: Roose Pioneers v Kells A.
SHIELD: Maryport A v Hensingham A.
DIVISION 1: Glasson Rangers v Dalton A.
NORTH WEST MEN’S LEAGUE
SHIELD FINAL: Hindley Stags Reserves v Oldham St Annes A (11.00am).
TROPHY FINAL: Westhoughton Lions v Golborne Parkside (1.00pm)
CUP FINAL: Folly Lane v Hindley Stags (3.00pm).
All at Portico Vine.
PREMIER DIVISION: West Bank Bears v Halton Farnworth Hornets.
DIVISION 2: Blackpool Scorpions v Hindley Stags Reserves.
YORKSHIRE MEN’S LEAGUE
PREMIER DIVISION: Doncaster Toll Bar v Hunslet.
DIVISION 1: York Barbarians v Emley Moor; Wibsey Warriors v Upton; Birstall Victoria v Sharlston Rovers.
DIVISION 2: Cutsyke Raiders v Dearne Valley Bulldogs; Castleford Panthers v Derby Elks.
DIVISION 3: Bramley Buffaloes v Queensbury; Dewsbury Moor v Dewsbury Celtic; Underbank Rangers v Birkenshaw Blue Dogs.
DIVISION 4: King Cross Park v Newsome Panthers; Sherburn Bears v Keighley Albion; Hemsworth Dragons v Batley.
DIVISION 5: Crigglestone All Blacks v York Acorn; Harrogate Hawks v Hull Wyke.
DIVISION 6: Milford v Knottingley Mustangs.
DIVISION 7: Woodhouse Warriors v East Leeds; Clayton v Boothtown Terriers.
FRIENDLIES: Myton Warriors v Stanningley.