HUNSLET ARLFC are clear at the top of the PREMIER DIVISION table – courtesy of a 40-12 win at THATTO HEATH CRUSADERS.

The sides went into the fixture having both won their first two games, but the visitors controlled the early stages and were 16-0 ahead on 26 minutes through tries by Tyler Dargan, Harry Dodd and Stan Boyes, the first two of which Lewis Heckford converted in a six-goal contribution. 

Chris Clayton crossed for Thatto – Ryan Houghton adding the extras – as the interval beckoned, but Hunslet ARLFC were 28 points clear with ten minutes remaining, thanks to touchdowns by Alfie Goddard, Dargan and Lewis Bayliss.

Although Keane Gilford dashed in for the hosts with five minutes left, Houghton again converting, the south Leeds side deservedly had the last word, through Ben Shulver.

The 2025 National Conference League champions WEST HULL, who were 24-18 behind to last year’s beaten Grand Finalists SIDDAL with only seven minutes left, staged a rally to prevail 28-24.

A try by Jack Sanderson got the Green and Golds to within a couple of points and, with the seconds ticking away, Wests posted the match-winner, by Elliott Jones, with Eligh Wilkinson adding his fourth goal.

Defeat was tough on the visitors in a game in which the lead changed hands multiple times. 

Jones nosed the hosts in front in the first minute, but Siddal hit back with an Oliver Lewis brace and the first of Harvey Williams’ four goals to lead 10-6 on the half-hour. 

Wilkinson converted his own score as the pendulum swung back to West Hull, only for the Halifax side to go in at half-time reflecting on a 16-12 advantage earned through a Williams penalty-goal and a Henry Turner try. 

Sanderson hit back three minutes after the restart, Wilkinson improving, only for Siddal to establish what looked like being a winning lead with Turner’s second touchdown and the last two of Williams’ goals.

But the spoils were to rest with Wests.

WATH BROW HORNETS posted a 33-10 win at LOCK LANE in a meeting of sides who had both lost their first two games.

The result arguably hinged on the red carding of the Lane’s Danny Holmes on 38 minutes for an alleged dangerous tackle, and the Castleford outfit’s cause wasn’t helped by the sinbinning of Lewis Price for dissent as the hour beckoned.

Lock Lane had taken the lead in the eighth minute through Brandon Worsley, Morgan Jones improving.

The Cumbrians, however, went 12-6 up by the half-hour, Sam Curwen converting tries by Dean Rooney and Devan Sharp.

Rooney stretched the lead to seven points – only a minute before Holmes was marched – with a field-goal, and a subsequent Curwen penalty-goal earned Hornets a 15-6 interval lead.

Jamie Devine and Owen McCartney added touchdowns within ten minutes of the restart, with Curwen adding both goals on his way to a six-from-six return with the boot.

The Lane not only survived Price’s yellow card without concession but registered Worsley’s second try eight minutes from time. However Wath Brow wound matters up with a Morgan McCourt touchdown.

Bottom side ROCHDALE MAYFIELD lost 34-24 at home to WEST BOWLING, who had looked clear winners early in the second period after establishing a 28-10 lead with a brace apiece for Owen Simpson and Logan Simpson, while Oliver Bartle had opened the visitors’ account and Harry Williams landed four conversions.

Mayfield, though, rallied to within four points with tries by Jack Green and Jamie Allen, plus the last three of Cole Connolly’s four goals.

But Bowling sealed victory when Williams bustled over in the last minute and improved his own effort.

Reece Hamlett and Callum Burn had crossed earlier for Mayfield.

Last season’s NCL Division One champions WIGAN ST JUDES dominated the second period to account for HEWORTH, who were also promoted, 32-16.

The York side led 16-4 at the interval after Harrison Briggs and Judes’ Dante Samuels traded tries. The visitors’ Liam Richmond (twice) and Joe Deighton then raced in for unconverted touchdowns.

It was, however, one-way traffic in the second half. Elliott Garrido, Dec Parkinson, Jacob Dugdale – with a brace – and Reece McNally crossed without response, with Danny Fallon (three) and Garrido adding goals.

DEWSBURY CELTIC head DIVISION ONE on points difference from Wigan St Patricks, who edged Oulton 26-20.

Celtic recovered from being 16-6 behind to neighbours SHAW CROSS as the interval beckoned to prevail 28-16, thanks to unanswered tries by Paul Foulstone, Bailey Arnold, Drew Judge-Clark and Lewis Teale.

Joel Gibson, who had scored the game’s opening touchdown (converted by Nathan Lawrence) sat out the last nine minutes, having been sinbinned for a tip-tackle. He had landed three goals.

Shaw Cross had led through tries by Nathan Wright, Brad Wakenshaw and Jude Toulson, two of which Evan Stephenson improved.

KELLS inflicted a first defeat of the season on previous leaders LEIGH MINERS RANGERS.

Leigh went into the last eight minutes 20-12 ahead, having notched touchdowns by Marco Williamson, Diego Walker and Noah Lancelott, with Isaac Hewitt kicking four goals.

But the Cumbrians reduced the deficit to four points when Blaine Graham powered over, and with only a couple of minutes remaining, Clarke Chambers restored parity with his second try of the contest. 

Up stepped Ross Gainford to land the pressure-cooker conversion – the Cumbrians’ first and only goal of the game – to secure a 22-20 victory.

Daniel Starkie and Ryan Watson had claimed the visitors’ other touchdowns.

OLDHAM ST ANNES are at the foot of the table, without a win, after losing 22-10 at STANNINGLEY.

The west Leeds outfit posted first-half tries for Connor Aveyard (the first of a double), Elliot Whitaker and Alfie Peach to forge a 14-0 lead, Jack Sykes having landed one goal.

The Saints’ Aidie Gleeson, who had been sinbinned for dissent in the opening period, crossed on the restart in reply to Peach’s second score.

Gleeson emulated Peach with a second try – Charlie McManus adding the goal – but it was too little, too late for the visitors, despite Stanningley’s Jumel Henry being yellow carded four minutes from time for striking.

PILKINGTON RECS, who share the wooden-spoon spot with Annes, are also seeking a first win of the campaign after losing 24-12 at DEWSBURY MOOR MAROONS.

Sixteen-man Pilks, though, were 12-6 ahead as the interval beckoned, having posted tries by James Smith and Harry Coleman, while Tom Connick landed a penalty-goal and a conversion.

But the Maroons, who had previously been limited to a Louie Walker try, plus George Woodcock’s goal, had the better of the business end of the contest. 

Aiden Ineson popped over on 57 minutes, Woodcock converting, and the latter nosed his side in front with a penalty-goal.

Matthew Race and, with the clincher, Joseph Berry, then touched down, Woodcock adding his fourth goal.

EAST LEEDS, who were the unbeaten NCL Division Two champions last year, claimed their first win in the National League with a 36-0 success over EGREMONT RANGERS, for whom prop Brad Long impressed.

Easts led 20-0 at the interval, with the help of tries by Shane Plunkett, Dave Gibbons, Ajay Wilson and Kiedan Hartley.

Wilson and – after Billy Evans had been yellow carded for use of the shoulder – Jake Walker and Moris Kamano strolled in for the hosts, for whom Gibbons landed four goals.

Aaron Turnbull of Egremont was sinbinned for foul play.

SCOREBOARD

Results

Friday 20 March
REGIONS
CUMBRIA MEN’S LEAGUE
DIVISION ONE: Egremont Rangers A 24 Maryport A 0.

Saturday 21 March
NATIONAL LEAGUES
PREMIER DIVISION
Lock Lane 10 Wath Brow Hornets 33
Rochdale Mayfield 24 West Bowling 34
Thatto Heath Crusaders 12 Hunslet ARLFC 40
West Hull 28 Siddal 24
Wigan St Judes 32 Heworth 16
York Acorn 26 Waterhead Warriors 4
DIVISION ONE
Dewsbury Celtic 28 Shaw Cross Sharks 16
Dewsbury Moor Maroons 24 Pilkington Recs 12
East Leeds 36 Egremont Rangers 0
Leigh Miners Rangers 20 Kells 22
Stanningley 22 Oldham St Annes 10
Wigan St Patricks 26 Oulton Raiders 20

CONFERENCE REGIONS
CUMBRIA CONFERENCE: Barrow Island 12 Distington 31; Dalton v Hindpool Tigers -nr; Maryport 24 Hensingham 40; Millom 52 Ulverston 6; Seaton Rangers 18 Ellenborough Rangers 50.
NORTH WEST CONFERENCE: Crosfields v Saddleworth Rangers -nr; Ince Rose Bridge 24 Leigh East 20; Ashton Bears v Orrell St James -nr; Woolston Rovers 12 Blackbrook 36.
YORKSHIRE A CONFERENCE: Keighley Albion 20 Myton Warriors 6; King Cross Park 28 Drighlington 26; Moldgreen v Beverley -nr; Stanley Rangers 30 Bradford Dudley Hill 16; Thornhill Trojans 14 Mirfield Spartans 26.
YORKSHIRE B CONFERENCE: Fryston Warriors 4 Newsome Panthers 34; Kippax Welfare 10 Milford 4; Normanton Knights 10 Featherstone Lions 30; Siddal Academy 28 Skirlaugh 22.

REGIONS
CUMBRIA MEN’S LEAGUE
PREMIER DIVISION: Roose Pioneers 54 Cockermouth Titans 24; Lowca v Flimby -nr; Kells A 24 Askam 26.
DIVISION ONE: Aspatria Hornets 30 Dalton A 30; Distington A v Glasson Rangers -nr; Hensingham A v Seaton Rangers A -nr.
NORTH WEST MEN’S LEAGUE
PREMIER DIVISION: Hindley Stags 28 Shevington Sharks 20; Chorley Panthers v Heysham Atoms -nr; Halton Farnworth Hornets 24 Waterhead Warriors A 0; West Bank Bears 20 Folly Lane 26; Wigan St Judes 26 Westhoughton Lions 30.
DIVISION 1: Bank Quay Bulls v Newton Storm -nr; Leigh Miners Rangers A v Rochdale Mayfield A -nr; Runcorn Highfield 30 Garswood Stags 62; Salford City Roosters 16 Golborne Parkside 10; Wigan St Cuthberts 16 Spring View 18.
DIVISION 2: Blackpool Scorpions 24 Liverpool Lizards 0; Clock Face Miners A 26 Portico Vine 6; Latchford Albion Giants 24 Orrell St James A 23; Oldham St Annes A 6 Thatto Heath Crusaders Academy 50; Saddleworth Rangers A 22 Ashton Bears A 17.
ENTRY DIVISION: Wigan Bulldogs 12 Ince Rose Bridge A 24; Blackbrook A v Rylands Sharks -nr; Cadishead Rhinos 0 Woolston Rovers A 54; Chester Gladiators v Chorley Panthers A -nr; Langworthy Reds 22 Salford City Roosters A 12; Leigh East A v Hindley Stags Reserves -nr; Spring View A v Burtonwood Bridge -nr; Westhoughton Lions A v Widnes St Maries -nr.
YORKSHIRE MEN’S LEAGUE
DIVISION 6: Sheffield Hawks 4 Moorends Thorne Marauders 52.
FRIENDLIES: Shaw Cross Sharks 24 Dewsbury Celtic 22; Thornhill Trojans 0 Dewsbury Moor 42; Brighouse Rangers A 18 Stanningley 40; Clayton 40 Guiseley Rangers 14; Knottingley Mustangs 0 Hull Wyke A 44; Dodworth Miners 24 Cutsyke Raiders 20; Odsal Sedbergh 16 Wibsey Warriors 26.

Fixtures

Thursday 26 March
YORKSHIRE MEN’S LEAGUE
REGIONS
DIVISION 4: Stanningley v Ossett Trinity Tigers.

Saturday 28 March
NATIONAL LEAGUES
PREMIER DIVISION
Heworth v Rochdale Mayfield
Hunslet ARLFC v West Hull
Lock Lane v Thatto Heath Crusaders
Siddal v Wigan St Judes
Waterhead Warriors v West Bowling
Wath Brow Hornets v York Acorn
DIVISION ONE
Egremont Rangers v Stanningley
Leigh Miners Rangers v Dewsbury Moor Maroons
Oldham St Annes v Dewsbury Celtic
Oulton Raiders v Kells
Pilkington Recs v East Leeds
Wigan St Patricks v Shaw Cross Sharks

CONFERENCE REGIONS
CUMBRIA CONFERENCE: Ulverston v Distington; Ellenborough Rangers v Barrow Island; Hindpool Tigers v Hensingham; Maryport v Dalton; Millom v Seaton Rangers.
NORTH WEST CONFERENCE: Blackbrook v Orrell St James; Clock Face Miners v Woolston Rovers; Leigh East v Crosfields; Saddleworth Rangers v Ince Rose Bridge.
YORKSHIRE A CONFERENCE: Beverley v Mirfield Spartans; Bradford Dudley Hill v King Cross Park; Drighlington v Moldgreen; Keighley Albion v Stanley Rangers; Myton Warriors v Thornhill Trojans.
YORKSHIRE B CONFERENCE: Bentley v Featherstone Lions; Fryston Warriors v Hull Dockers; Milford v Siddal Academy; Newsome Panthers v Kippax Welfare; Normanton Knights v Skirlaugh.

REGIONS
CUMBRIA CUP: Flimby v Aspatria Hornets; Roose Pioneers v Millom A; Lowca v Askam; Kells A v Seaton Rangers A; Cockermouth Titans v Egremont Rangers A; Hensingham A v Maryport A; Wath Brow Hornets A v Glasson Rangers.
NORTH WEST MEN’S LEAGUE
PREMIER DIVISION: Chorley Panthers v Waterhead Warriors A; Heysham Atoms v Folly Lane; Westhoughton Lions v West Bank Bears; Wigan St Judes v Hindley Stags.
DIVISION 1: Golborne Parkside v Newton Storm; Rochdale Mayfield A v Garswood Stags; Runcorn Highfield v Salford City Roosters; Spring View v Leigh Miners Rangers A; Wigan St Cuthberts v Bank Quay Bulls.
DIVISION 2: Oldham St Annes A v Ashton Bears A; Blackpool Scorpions v Latchford Albion Giants; Liverpool Lizards v Clock Face Miners A; Orrell St James A v Portico Vine; Thatto Heath Crusaders Academy v Saddleworth Rangers A.
ENTRY DIVISION: Hindley Stags Reserves v Salford City Roosters A; Cadishead Rhinos v Leigh East A; Chester Gladiators v Wigan Bulldogs; Langworthy Reds v Burtonwood Bridge; Rylands Sharks v Spring View A; Westhoughton Lions A v Ince Rose Bridge A; Widnes St Maries v Blackbrook A; Woolston Rovers A v Chorley Panthers A.
YORKSHIRE MEN’S LEAGUE
FRIENDLIES: Myton Warriors v Skirlaugh Academy.
PREMIER DIVISION: Dodworth Miners v West Bowling Academy; Doncaster Toll Bar v East Hull; Newcastle Lightning v Hunslet ARLFC; Ossett Trinity Tigers v Brighouse Rangers.
DIVISION 1: Birstall Victoria v Emley Moor; Seacroft Sharks v Wibsey Warriors; Stainland Stags v Sharlston Rovers; York Barbarians v Upton.
DIVISION 2: Castleford Panthers v Cutsyke Raiders; Lindley St Joseph’s v Dearne Valley Bulldogs; West Hull v Eastmoor Dragons.
DIVISION 3: Bramley Buffaloes v Birkenshaw Blue Dogs; Dewsbury Celtic v Drighlington; Dewsbury Moor v Moortown Mambas; Queensbury v Underbank Rangers.
DIVISION 4: Hemsworth Dragons v Newsome Panthers; King Cross Park v Keighley Albion; Sherburn Bears v Batley ARLFC.
DIVISION 5: Methley Warriors v Crigglestone All Blacks; New Earswick All Blacks v Harrogate Hawks; Shaw Cross Sharks v Farnley Falcons; York Acorn v Hull Wyke.
DIVISION 6: Garforth Tigers v Moorends Thorne Marauders; Guiseley Rangers v Sheffield Hawks; Knottingley Mustangs v Milford; Moldgreen Rams v Rycroft Hammers.
DIVISION 7: Boothtown Terriers v Normanton Knights; Featherstone Lions v Oulton Raiders; Thornhill Trojans v Bentley; Upton Academy v York Barbarians A.
ENTRY LEAGUE: East Leeds v Lock Lane; Hull Knights v Woodhouse Warriors; Illingworth v Clayton; Odsal Sedbergh v Heworth.

Image: Alex Shenton