EAST LEEDS 23 OULTON RAIDERS 10
PHIL HODGSON, ​DIY Kitchens Stadium, Wakefield, Saturday

EAST LEEDS will be operating in the National League’s Premier Division in 2027.

The men from Easy Road closed strongly in the meeting of the fourth- and sixth-placed sides in the regular season to join champions Dewsbury Celtic in being elevated to the top-flight.

Oulton, who were well-served by prop Matty Stableford but generally lacked East Leeds’ creativity, had the better of the early stages of each half – in particular at the beginning of the game – but were, ultimately, clearly second best.

The Raiders, who had won 19-18 at Easts but had lost 26-10 at home, started strongly and went in front in the fifth minute when, following an early penalty, fullback Joe Horan crossed after the ball had been spread out wide.

Scrum-half Archie Craggs was unable to convert but landed a penalty some six minutes later (the count at that stage was 3-0 to Oulton before finishing at 9-9 in a game firmly controlled by referee Reece Schofield) before Easts began to work their way into the game.

The Red and Whites opened their account on 16 minutes when, following a rare spill by Stableford, the ball was worked downfield for fullback Luke Littlewood to nip over after astute approach work by stand-off Dave Gibbons and scrum-half Owen Hughes.

Littlewood converted his own score, with the help of an upright, and nosed his side ahead for the first time with a penalty from short range six minutes before the break, shortly after East Leeds’ winger Ajay Wilson had, to his evident chagrin, had a try ruled out for offside.

Easts extended their lead at the interval to 14-6, Gibbons dummying and scampering in from ten metres and Littlewood improving.

Oulton were, again, the first out of the starting blocks in the second period, making the most of a penalty awarded when Easts were in possession for hooker Kian Watson and Stableford to send second row Ben Brady through a huge gap.

Craggs was wide with his conversion attempt and Easts stretched their lead to six points when Littlewood landed a penalty, awarded for holding down, from close to the posts on 48 minutes.

Easts missed a chance when Hughes, having been put through a gap by Gibbons, fired a wayward inside pass in the direction of second row (and coach) Ryan Wooffitt, while winger Shane Plunkett was judged to have stepped on the touchline prior to dotting down.

But, with eight minutes left, Littlewood gave his side vital breathing space with a 20-metre penalty following a late challenge by Oulton from territory gained with the help of a fine pass out of a tackle by prop Roy Railton.

Littlewood backed that up by collecting a deft Gibbons kick and sending Isaac Colemen over.

And, after having been narrowly wide with the conversion attempt, Littlewood capped a man-of-the-match display with a late field-goal to send his side into further raptures and deservedly secure the silverware.

GAMESTAR: East Leeds fullback Luke Littlewood scored a try, landed five goals and a field-goal, and created his side’s last touchdown of the game.

GAMEBREAKER: Luke Littlewood’s penalty on 72 minutes stretched Easts’ lead to what looked like an unassailable eight points.

MATCHFACTS

EASTS
1 Luke Littlewood
2 Ajay Wilson
3 James Duckworth
4 Kiedan Hartley
5 Shane Plunkett
6 Dave Gibbons
7 Owen Hughes
19 Roy Railton
9 Alfie Crawford
10 Luke Mullen
11 Ryan Wooffitt
12 Isaac Coleman
13 Kane Riley
Subs
14 David Kamano
15 Patrick O’Donovan
17 Nehemiah Mensah
20 Jake Walker

Tries: Littlewood (16), Gibbons (40), Coleman (75)
Goals: Littlewood 5/6
Field-goals: Littlewood (80)

RAIDERS
1 Joe Horan
2 Alfie Hawkhead
3 Adrian Holdsworth
4 Bailey Metcalfe
5 Noah Crawshaw
6 Noah Kershaw
7 Archie Craggs
8 Tom Lunn
9 Kian Watson
10 Matty Stableford
15 Nathan Waring
12 Ben Brady
21 Charlie Tetley
Subs
6 Tom Greensmith
16 Joel Edmiston
19 Jacob Rotherham
20 Tom Stevens

Tries: Horan (5), Brady (42)
Goals: Craggs 1/3

SCORING SEQUENCE: 0-4, 0-6, 6-6, 8-6, 14-6; 14-10, 16-10, 18-10, 22-10, 23-10

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Easts: Luke Littlewood; Raiders: Matty Stableford

Penalty count: 9-9
Half-time: 14-6
Referee: Reece Schofield