FREE-SCORING winger Tyler Dargan shot over for five tries as HUNSLET ARLFC eased to a comfortable victory over YORK ACORN.

It was a clash of sides that finished seventh and ninth respectively in last season’s NCL Premier Division, and who will renew acquaintance this summer in the RFL’s inaugural National Premier League.

Hunslet did the double over Acorn last year and repeated the medicine at the first stage of this year’s Wembley trail, meaning they will travel to Batley in the second round on the last weekend of January.

There was little between the sides for much of the game, however. The hosts, who had George Clarke – back from East Leeds – on the bench, went in front in the 22nd minute through McKenzie Haigh.

Harry Shackleton added the first of his six goals but the visitors, for whom loose-forward Eddie Prescott impressed, restored parity on the half-hour, Oli Harrison improving Harry Kirk’s touchdown.

Hunslet, though, went in at the break 16-6 to the good, courtesy of late tries by Dargan and Alfie Goddard.

Dargan added three more touchdowns by the 65th minute.

Josh McLelland and Ben Shulver dotted down as the home side cut loose, before Dargan completed his nap hand three minutes from time.

HAMMERSMITH HILLS HOISTS, the champions of the Southern Conference League, earned themselves a dream second-round home tie against reborn Salford with a compelling 18-4 win over the ROYAL NAVY at Portsmouth.

​The victory owed much to strong defence, particularly in the opening stages of the second period when the Navy applied plenty of pressure in a bid to overturn an 8-4 interval lead.

The hosts had, in fact, gone in front in the fifth minute, though Josaia Korobiau, but were unable to add to their tally.

Josh Fisher nipped in for Hammersmith some ten minutes later, and the London side nosed ahead on the half-hour when Kane Strachan bustled over.

Fisher claimed a smash-and-grab try on 51 minutes, and there was no way back for the Navy when Jordan Best powered over with ten minutes left, Jack Ryan adding the extras.

BARLA National Cup holders ORRELL ST JAMES shattered OLDHAM ST ANNES’ hopes of a derby tie at Championship side Oldham with an emphatic 34-0 triumph.

Orrell, the reigning North West Men’s League champions, were too strong for the visitors, who will operate in the National Division One – the second tier under the RFL’s new structure – from March.

St James, who will feature in the National Conference North West, opened strongly with tries in the first seven minutes for James Dandy and Joe Robinson, the second of which Joe Charnock improved.

Despite the efforts of Annes’ Ady Gleeson, it stayed that way until seven minutes into the second half, when Robinson grabbed his second try.

Charnock and Chris Doran added touchdowns by the hour and victory was wrapped up when Tom Whittle shot in as the tie entered the closing quarter, Charnock completing a five-from-six return with the boot.

​THATTO HEATH CRUSADERS, who will operate in the National Premier League, scuttled SEATON RANGERS, who have been allotted a place in the National Conference League Cumbria, 78-10.

The Heath were 20-0 up after 18 minutes, courtesy of a brace by Liam Kenyon and touchdowns by Adam Carr and Kye Siyani, with Ryan Houghton booting the first two of his nine goals.

Luke Grossman hit back for Seaton, Kieron Robinson adding the extras, but Thatto were 44-6 ahead by the interval through Carr’s second try and touchdowns to Adam Saunders, man of the match Jamie Holroyd and Sean Leicester.

Rangers had Robinson yellow-carded for a professional foul on the cusp of half-time and Holroyd and Houghton crossed in his absence although, between-times, Jaiden Tallantire powered in for the Cumbrians.

But the closing quarter belonged to the Heath, who will host Widnes at the next stage, with five unanswered tries.

The first and last went to Keane Gilford and the others were claimed by Saunders, Andy Lea and Siyani.

Also in St Helens, BLACKBROOK – who are preparing for life in the National Conference North West – topped the half-century against GREAT BRITAIN POLICE with a 52-6 verdict to book a home tie with Workington.

It was tight in the first half, the Brook posting a 12-0 lead with tries on 20 and 25 minutes respectively for Cammy Tunstall-Muil and Paul Nash, both of which were converted by eight-goal Dan Moss.

Within the first nine minutes of the second period, Blackbrook had doubled their lead, thanks to touchdowns for Aarin Hyland and Luke Marsh, and tries followed by the hour for Jordan McManus and Jayme Johnson.

Johnson grabbed his second score as the match went into the final quarter and although Jordan Cella replied for the Police (for whom Callum Sampson shone), Owen Priest converting, Blackbrook closed on a high with tries by man of the match Josh Wilson and McManus.

WESTS WARRIORS sealed a 24-12 win over the BRITISH ARMY at Aldershot – and booked a second round derby tie at Championship side London Broncos – through a late try by Sam Griffiths, with Reiss Walker adding his fourth goal.

The Warriors had appeared to have been in control in the early stages of a contest in which several cards were brandished, winger Semisi Ikahihifo having posted unanswered tries on eleven and 26 minutes.

Reiss Walker was unable to add either conversion from wide out but extended the 8-0 interval lead to 12-0 with a couple of penalties within nine minutes of the restart. 

Wests, after a number of players from both sides had been carded, looked certain winners when Tamati Gribble crashed over as the hour-mark beckoned, Walker’s conversion establishing an 18-point buffer. 

It was needed when the Army blasted back with late tries by James Amachree and Dylan Jackson, Mikey McDonald’s two goals pegging the visitors back to six points. But Griffiths’ injury-time score saw the Warriors through.