ROCHDALE MAYFIELD have been relegated from the PREMIER DIVISION.
The fate of the season-long strugglers was sealed by Saturday’s 32-10 home defeat by THATTO HEATH CRUSADERS, who having now gone five games without defeat, are only a couple of points shy of fourth-placed Waterhead – who drew at Siddal – in the tussle for play-off placings.
Mayfield illustrated that they can be competitive by being on level terms 13 minutes into the second period, a Leo Talbot touchdown restoring parity at 10-10.
But Thatto, who had prevailed 36-10 in St Helens, controlled the closing quarter with unanswered tries by Kye Siyani, Callum Gregory, Jamie Tracey and Jamie Holroyd, with Ryan Houghton completing a four-goal contribution.
Mayfield had gone in front on 19 minutes when Cole Connolly converted Philip Futi’s touchdown, only for the Heath to lead 10-6 at the break, with Holroyd and Jake Dickinson crossing.
Second-bottom HEWORTH, who lost 30-10 at HUNSLET ARLFC, are in deep trouble after a seventh successive reverse.
The Villagers, who have only two fixtures remaining, are three points adrift of York Acorn, who have a couple of games in hand.
The hosts, who have won their last seven games and who triumphed 42-6 at Heworth, are virtually certain of second spot, given their four-point advantage over third-placed Siddal.
Moris Kamano and Jamie Field crashed over in the first eleven minutes, Harry Shackleton improving both efforts, before Riley Barstow replied for the visitors and Jack Sadler added the extras.
The south Leeds side, however, went in at the break 28-6 ahead, Shackleton converting Tommy Corke’s score.
Hunslet ARLFC’s George Rayner and Heworth’s Harrison Briggs traded tries before the hour, Danny Rowse improving Rayner’s effort.
And although the home side had Jaden Barraclough yellow carded on the hour for dissent, victory was sealed when Corke clattered in at the death and Rowse goaled.
YORK ACORN are not quite out of the woods after losing 32-0 at League Leaders’ Shield winners WEST HULL, who have won all 20 of their games to date.
Wests completed a double after the 28-4 victory at Thanet Road with first-half tries, on six, 37 and 39 minutes respectively, by Oscar Ellerington, Benn Arbon and Elliott Jones, each of which Eligh Wilkinson goaled.
Harry Hutchinson dotted down two minutes after the restart. Wilkinson, who again improved, nipped over ten minutes later and the Green & Golds closed their account when Kieran Masike swept in twelve minutes from time.
Scrum-half Oli Harrison impressed for Acorn.
WATH BROW HORNETS sealed sixth spot, and a berth in the championship play-offs, with a 32-16 victory at LOCK LANE, who had been beaten 33-10 in Castleford.
Hornets, who were 14-4 ahead at the interval, closed with a Nathan Dougan brace and tries by Fran King, Morgan McCourt and Matthew Creasey, with Sam Curwen kicking six goals.
The Lane, who had been seeking a third win on the hoof but remain too close to the drop zone for comfort, missed out despite a try and two conversions by Calum Butler and touchdowns for Morgan Jones and Leyton Davies.
SIDDAL and WATERHEAD WARRIORS drew 12-12.
Waterhead, who had prevailed 26-18 in Oldham, opened with a Kegan Brennan penalty-goal on 23 minutes, followed by a try nine minutes later for Max Hobin.
Siddal, though, levelled on the cusp of half-time with Harvey Williams’ conversion of Harry Milnes’ touchdown.
Williams improved his own score nine minutes after the restart and as the final whistle approached a seventh successive win for the Halifax side looked likely.
But Waterhead, who have won only one of their last four games, had other ideas and restored parity four minutes from time, Jenson Hamilton racing in and Brennan adding the pressure-cooker conversion.
Both sides missed field-goal attempts in a frantic finale.
WEST BOWLING exacted retribution for the 38-26 away defeat by beating WIGAN ST JUDES 30-10.
The Bradford outfit, who have leapfrogged Judes into seventh spot but cannot make the play-offs following Wath Brow’s win, were 24-0 ahead ten minutes into the second period, courtesy of an Andrew Gabriel brace and tries by Archie Halmshaw, Oliver Bartle and Lewis Galtress.
Judes rallied by the hour with two touchdowns for Declan Parkinson, one of which Dec O’Connell converted, but Wests inflicted a sixth successive defeat with a Liam Darville try and Harry Williams’ third goal.
In a torrid finish, Danny Halmshaw (Bowling) and the Saints’ Adam Holt were sin-binned for running in.
OLDHAM ST ANNES have been relegated from DIVISION ONE.
Annes are condemned after losing 32-24 at OULTON RAIDERS, who had won 32-12 in Oldham.
The Saints, who have lost their last six games, recovered from 10-0 down to lead 12-10 on the half-hour with converted tries by Craig Basnett and Callum Cashin.
But Oulton, who are now almost certain of a play-offs berth, posted the last two of Noah Crawford’s three tries in a definitive four-minute spell straddling the break, with Archie Craggs, who had improved Adrian Holdsworth’s effort, adding his second goal.
Joe Horan and Tom Alexander dotted down for Oulton before the hour, Horan converting his own score. And although Basnett and Cashin claimed their second tries in the final quarter, with Matthew Whitehead completing a four-from-four return with the boot, Horan landed a penalty-goal in between to keep the Leeds side on course for a fifth successive win.
A George Woodcock goal two minutes from time helped third-placed DEWSBURY MOOR MAROONS, who had prevailed 24-12 at home, snatch a 22-22 draw at second-bottom PILKINGTON RECS.
The penalty, awarded midway between the touchline and the posts for a high shot, leaves Pilks needing to win their last two games to have any chance of overhauling Wigan St Patricks.
The Recs, who had been limited to a Tyrese Daley try in the first half, had overturned a 20-4 deficit early in the second period with a Ben O’Connell hat-trick, Tom Connick adding each goal.
The Moor, who are now four points adrift of leaders Dewsbury Celtic, had led through tries by Gregory Colbridge, Taylor Russell, Kieren Hepworth and Oliver Farrar, two of which Woodcock improved.
DEWSBURY CELTIC posted a seventh successive win with a 46-6 home victory over WIGAN ST PATRICKS, who had been toppled 44-20 on their own patch.
Celtic, who were 34-0 ahead at the interval, registered two tries and five goals for Jordan Hirst, while Lewis Teale also crossed twice.
Other touchdowns went to Callum Wilkins, Josh Frain, Drew Judge-Clark and Casey Canterbury, while Dylan Kindelan added a couple of goals.
Pats were 40-0 down before Joe Higham bustled in and Jack Sproat added the extras.
KELLS remain just a point behind Celtic after completing a double following their 28-12 win in Dewsbury, with a 40-24 home victory over SHAW CROSS.
The Cumbrians were 28-0 ahead at half-time and 40-6 in front on 56 minutes, having notched a Clarke Chambers hat-trick, a brace for Aaron Burns, touchdowns by James Ennis, Dan Grears and Harry Watson and four Ross Gainford goals.
The Sharks, for whom Harry Smith crossed early in the second period, dominated the closing quarter with unanswered tries for Isaac Murray, Nath Wright and Josh Rhodes, with Evan Stephenson converting all of his side’s tries, but it was too little, too late to avoid a fourth successive defeat for the visitors, who cannot now make the play-offs.
STANNINGLEY, who were 19-18 down as the derby at home to EAST LEEDS entered the final quarter, upped the tempo against a side who aim to make a mark in the play-offs to prevail 36-19.
The hosts recorded a fourth successive win through unanswered tries by Jack Sykes, Connor Aveyard and Mark Shires, with Zack Clayton completing a six-from-six return with the boot.
Jack Vincent had claimed Stanningley’s only first-half try but Sykes and Clayton nipped over within the first four minutes of the second period to help forge an 18-7 lead.
Easts, who were seeking a fourth win on the hoof and had edged the home clash 22-20, led 7-6 at the break through Luke Littlewood’s late field-goal, and had recovered to just 19-18 behind with Kieran Brining’s second try, a David Kamano touchdown, and Littlewood’s third conversion.
Stanningley are two points shy of sixth-placed Egremont in the battle to make the play-offs but have played one more game than Rangers and have only two more fixtures left.
EGREMONT won 26-6 at LEIGH MINERS who, after five successive defeats, are four points adrift of the Cumbrians and have only two matches left.
The visitors gained revenge for a 38-24 home defeat against the Miners by going 14-0 up on the half-hour with the help of tries by Connor Williams, Jayden Tyson and Jordan Baird.
The Miners replied through Lucas Tyrer, Cal Ashurst’s conversion reducing the deficit to 14-6 at the break, but Egremont eased home with Williams’ second score and, on 66 minutes, a Nathan Preston try, while Joe Lewis landed three goals.
SCOREBOARD
Thursday 10 September
REGIONS
NORTH WEST MEN’S LEAGUE
PREMIER DIVISION: Hindley Stags 24 Westhoughton Lions 0.
Friday 11 September
REGIONS
CUMBRIA MEN’S LEAGUE
DIVISION 1: Glasson Rangers 18 Hensingham A 34.
Saturday 12 September
NATIONAL LEAGUE
PREMIER DIVISION
Hunslet ARLFC 30 Heworth 10
Rochdale Mayfield 10 Thatto Heath Crusaders 32
Siddal 12 Waterhead Warriors 12
Wath Brow Hornets 32 Lock Lane 16
West Bowling 30 Wigan St Judes 10
West Hull 32 York Acorn 0
DIVISION ONE
Dewsbury Celtic 46 Wigan St Patricks 6
Kells 40 Shaw Cross Sharks 24
Leigh Miners Rangers 6 Egremont Rangers 26
Oulton Raiders 32 Oldham St Annes 24
Pilkington Recs 22 Dewsbury Moor Maroons 22
Stanningley 36 East Leeds 19
CONFERENCE REGIONS
NATIONAL CONFERENCE SOUTH
GRAND FINAL: Wests Warriors 32 Hammersmith Hills Hoists 12.
CROSS-CONFERENCE PLAY-OFFS
GROUP A: Orrell St James v Fryston Warriors -nr; Hensingham 24 Moldgreen 22.
GROUP B: Dalton 16 Blackbrook 42; Mirfield Spartans 20 Newsome Panthers 12.
GROUP C: Keighley Albion 52 Distington 12; Skirlaugh 6 Saddleworth Rangers 28.
GROUP D: Featherstone Lions 58 Thornhill Trojans 8; Ince Rose Bridge 24 Barrow Island 0.
SHIELD
GROUP A: Ellenborough Rangers 24 Crosfields 0.
GROUP B: King Cross Park 10 Ashton Bears 46.
GROUP C: Clock Face Miners v Maryport -nr.
GROUP D: Leigh East 12 Milford 42.
GROUP E: Kippax Welfare v Bradford Dudley Hill -nr.
GROUP F: Bentley 6 Myton Warriors 42.
GROUP G: Millom v Drighlington -nr.
REGIONS
CUMBRIA MEN’S LEAGUE
PREMIER DIVISION: Lowca v Flimby Vikings -nr; Cockermouth Titans 24 Kells A 0; Roose Pioneers 16 Wath Brow Hornets A 32.
NORTH WEST MEN’S LEAGUE
PREMIER DIVISION: West Bank Bears 24 Wigan St Judes 0; Waterhead Warriors A v Shevington Sharks -nr.
DIVISION 1: Runcorn Highfield v Salford City Roosters -nr; Garswood Stags 30 Wigan St Cuthberts 24.
DIVISION 2: Portico Vine 24 Orrell St James A 0; Hindley Stags Reserves 36 Saddleworth Rangers A 16; Latchford Albion Giants 58 Blackpool Scorpions 22; Clock Face Miners A 0 Thatto Heath Crusaders Academy 24.
YORKSHIRE MEN’S LEAGUE
PREMIER DIVISION (SEMI-FINALS): Doncaster Toll Bar 24 Hunslet ARLFC 0; Ossett Trinity Tigers 22 Dodworth Miners 12.
DIVISION 1 (SEMI-FINALS): Upton 54 Emley Moor 10; Sharlston Rovers 30 York Barbarians 32.
DIVISION 2 (SEMI-FINALS): West Hull 22 Lindley St Joseph’s 10; Eastmoor Dragons 32 Dearne Valley Bulldogs 10.
DIVISION 3 (SEMI-FINALS): Queensbury 24 Bramley Buffaloes 20.
DIVISION 4: Keighley Albion 24 King Cross Park 0; Newsome Panthers 0 Batley 24.
DIVISION 5: Harrogate Hawks 12 York Acorn 56.
DIVISION 6: Sheffield Hawks 24 Knottingley Mustangs 0.
DIVISION 7: Woodhouse Warriors 0 Boothtown Terriers 48; Clayton 24 East Leeds 0.
FRIENDLY: Stanningley 22 Whinmoor Warriors 8.
Fixtures
Wednesday 16 September
NATIONAL LEAGUE
PREMIER DIVISION
York Acorn v Lock Lane
Saturday 19 September
NATIONAL LEAGUE
PREMIER DIVISION
Heworth v Waterhead Warriors
Lock Lane v West Bowling
Siddal v Wath Brow Hornets
West Hull v Hunslet ARLFC
Wigan St Judes v Thatto Heath Crusaders
York Acorn v Rochdale Mayfield
DIVISION ONE
Dewsbury Moor Maroons v Dewsbury Celtic
Egremont Rangers v East Leeds
Kells v Oulton Raiders
Oldham St Annes v Pilkington Recs
Shaw Cross Sharks v Wigan St Patricks
Stanningley v Leigh Miners Rangers
CONFERENCE REGIONS
CROSS-CONFERENCE PLAY-OFFS
GROUP A: Orrell St James v Hensingham; Fryston Warriors v Moldgreen.
GROUP B: Dalton v Mirfield Spartans; Blackbrook v Newsome Panthers.
GROUP C: Distington v Saddleworth Rangers; Keighley Albion v Skirlaugh.
GROUP D: Featherstone Lions v Ince Rose Bridge; Thornhill Trojans v Barrow Island.
SHIELD
GROUP A: Crosfields v Ellenborough.
GROUP B: Hull Dockers v King Cross Park.
GROUP C: Maryport v Clock Face Miners.
GROUP D: Beverley v Leigh East.
GROUP E: Seaton Rangers v Kippax Welfare.
GROUP F: Woolston Rovers v Bentley.
GROUP G: Drighlington v Millom.
REGIONS
NORTH WEST MEN’S LEAGUE
ENTRY DIVISION: Chorley Panthers A v Blackbrook A.
YORKSHIRE MEN’S LEAGUE
DIVISION 4: Hemsworth Dragons v Batley.
DIVISION 5: Crigglestone All Blacks v York Acorn; Harrogate Hawks v Hull Wyke; York Acorn v Shaw Cross Sharks.
DIVISION 7: Woodhouse Warriors v East Leeds; Boothtown Terriers v York Barbarians A.