WEST HULL may have already sealed the PREMIER DIVISION League Leaders’ Trophy – but HUNSLET ARLFC laid down a real marker ahead of the play-offs by ending the Green and Golds’ 20-match winning run with a 20-20 draw at Johnny Whiteley Park.
The second-placed Leeds side, who have now gone eight games without defeat, looked down and out at the break when Wests, who had prevailed 26-22 in south Leeds, led 14-0 through tries by Josh Wood, Elliott Jones and Mason Opie Palmer, one of which Jack Sanderson converted.
The visitors blasted back to 14-12 behind, Harry Shackleton improving touchdowns by Lewis Heckford and Jack McShane, only for Sanderson to add the extras when Bobby Tyson-Wilson dotted down for the hosts as the hour beckoned.
But Hunslet ARLFC pegged Wests back to a couple of points when McShane grabbed his second try with ten minutes left.
And a late penalty-goal from 25 metres in front of the posts by Shackleton, who had improved the closing touchdown, ended Wests’ 100 percent record.
HEWORTH are formally relegated following a 42-12 home defeat at the hands of WATERHEAD WARRIORS, who have leapfrogged Siddal into third spot.
The Warriors, who had won 36-16 in Oldham, were 14-0 ahead as the break approached, thanks to tries by Adam Robinson, Vince Arthurs and Jenson Hamilton, with Kegan Brennan kicking the first of his five goals.
Tom Smith replied for the Villagers, Jack Sandler’s conversion pegging Waterhead back to 14-6, but Heworth were 36-6 adrift before Sam Parkinson claimed their second try on 69 minutes, Sadler again improving.
Arthurs had, by that stage, completed a hat-trick while Marcus Geener and Mitchell Birch also crossed.
And an emphatic win was sealed with Max Hobin’s late touchdown before the game closed in torrid fashion, Heworth’s Sadler and Tom Hardy, together with the Warriors’ Adam Robinson, copping red cards for their alleged parts in a fracas.
YORK ACORN ensured top-flight survival, regardless of Heworth’s defeat, with a dramatic 24-22 victory over bottom side ROCHDALE MAYFIELD.
The visitors had looked like ending a five-game losing run when a 22-12 lead had been established on 54 minutes with a Harry Sheridan brace, tries by Jack McConnachie and Philip Futi, and three Joe Hickey goals.
But Acorn, who had led 12-6 at the break through Ant Chilton’s conversions of tries by Ryan Gallacher and Liam Franks, levelled with touchdowns by Matt Chilton and, five minutes from time, Josh Thompson, the first of which Ant Chilton converted.
And there was heartbreak for Mayfield, who had drawn 24-24 with Acorn in Rochdale, when, in the closing seconds, Ant Chilton kicked a winning penalty-goal, awarded for an alleged high shot by Cole Connolly 30 metres in from the touchline.
LOCK LANE had prevailed 30-8 on Wednesday evening at YORK ACORN to seal survival.
Alex Barker and Rob Jowett crossed by the 23rd minute, Reece Hollingsworth adding the first two of five conversions from as many attempts.
Thompson replied for Acorn as the interval beckoned but the visitors – who had edged matters 26-24 in Castleford – went in at the break 18-4 ahead with the help of Tom Gibson’s touchdown.
The Lane’s Morgan Jones bagged a brace by the hour to help secure a 30-4 lead and, after Thompson had been sinbinned on 61 minutes for dissent and his teammate Nath Hammerton red carded with eight minutes left for an alleged punch (Lock Lane’s Leyton Davies seeing yellow for ‘loss of control’ in response) Acorn’s Aaron Walker grabbed a late consolation try.
WEST BOWLING recovered from 22-12 behind as the game entered the final quarter to prevail 30-22 in Saturday’s game at LOCK LANE.
The rally owed something to the sinbinnings of the Lane’s Calum Butler and the visitors’ Oliver Bartle on 62 minutes for ‘coming together’ – plus a yellow card for the hosts’ Connor Wilson on 67 minutes for punching.
Wests, who had won 34-24 in Bradford, made the most of the extra space with unanswered tries by Logan Simpson, Archie Halmshaw and Lewis Camden – Harry Williams landing the last three of his five goals – to post a third successive win.
Jack Cull and Danny Rushworth had crossed by the 43rd minute to help forge a 12-6 lead while the Lane had led through a brace for Lewis Price (who was sinbinned on 39 minutes for a professional foul) and tries by Josh Stevens and Davies, three of which Butler converted.
WATH BROW HORNETS, who were already certain to take part in the play-offs from sixth spot, confirmed their status as genuine title aspirants by winning 14-13 at SIDDAL, who had prevailed 16-8 in Cumbria.
Siddal, who have slipped to fourth in the standings, had looked on course for victory when Jamie Greenwood landed a field-goal eight minutes from time to break a 12-12 deadlock.
But, on 77 minutes, a high tackle 30 metres from the hosts’ posts gave Sam Curwen the chance to land the pressure-cooker winner from the tee.
Hornets, who have not lost in the last four games, had previously posted tries by Callum Farrer and Karl Dixon, both of which Curwen goaled.
Siddal’s Harvey Williams, meanwhile, had converted tries by Henry Turner and Greenwood. The Halifax outfit’s cause hadn’t been helped by the sinbinning of Lewis Hosty on 36 minutes for dissent.
THATTO HEATH, who have gone six games without defeat following the 22-16 win at WIGAN ST JUDES (who have lost their last seven matches) are only a point behind Siddal.
The Crusaders, who had beaten Judes 36-12 in St Helens, were 22-0 ahead on 52 minutes, courtesy of tries by Brad Ashurst, Callum Gregory, Adam Saunders and Liam Kenyon, three of which Sean Kenny converted.
Judes (following the return of Thatto’s Jamie Tracey, who was sinbinned on 44 minutes for a shoulder charge) hit back with touchdowns by Calum Palmer, Ryan Duffy and, in the last minute, Kenny Baker, with Baker and Dec O’Donnell each landing a goal. But the rally had come too late.
KELLS regained pole position in DIVISION ONE, leapfrogging DEWSBURY CELTIC, through a 16-14 home win over OULTON RAIDERS, while Celtic were held to a derby draw at DEWSBURY MOOR.
Harley Nelson scored a try and two goals for Kells, who were 6-0 ahead at the break, while Grant Gainford and Tyce Walmsley also dotted down.
Oulton, who had lost 30-6 in Leeds but were targeting a sixth win on the trot, missed out despite a Noah Crawshaw brace, a Tom Stevens try and a Joe Horan conversion.
Kells will visit Celtic on Saturday in the title decider.
The Green and Whites had looked on course to extend a seven-match winning run – and complete a double over the Maroons after the 22-18 home victory – when an 18-6 lead had been established on 55 minutes with Jordan Hirst’s conversions of tries by Joel Gibson, Nath Lawrence and Dylan Kindelan.
But third-placed Moor, who had opened with a Louie Walker try, hit back on the hour with a Matthew Race effort and, despite having Jackson Walker sinbinned on 64 minutes for a late tackle, levelled on 72 with a George Woodcock touchdown, Louie Walker adding his third goal.
PILKINGTON RECS are relegated – their fate being sealed by a 26-16 defeat at bottom side OLDHAM ST ANNES, who were already condemned to the drop.
The Recs, who were only ahead for a two-minute spell late in the first half, were nevertheless firmly in contention in the closing stages, Warren Paladino’s second try on 65 minutes, plus Nathan Livesey’s second goal, pegging the Saints back to 20-16.
However Annes celebrated a double after their 12-4 victory in St Helens with a last-gasp score by Connor Winfield, with the superb Saints servant Alex Eyres, playing his last match at the age of 39, bringing the curtain down on a memorable career by adding the extras.
Connor Mitchell, Hayden Howarth and, with a brace, Jack Etchells had crossed for Annes, while Matt Whitehead improved two scores. Tyler Duberry had opened for Pilks.
EGREMONT RANGERS beat 14-man EAST LEEDS 28-18 and, after four successive wins, are now only a point behind fourth-placed Easts.
The Cumbrians, who had lost 36-0 in Leeds, were 14-0 down on 35 minutes before bouncing back to lead 16-14 twelve minutes into the second period with the help of two Jordan Baird tries and a Connor Williams touchdown.
Easts, for whom James Duckworth had converted one of tries by Kiedan Hartley, Kane Riley and Luke Mullen, regained the advantage when Nehemiah Mensah raced over as the game entered the final quarter.
But Rangers dominated the closing stages with a second try for Williams and Baird’s hat-trick score, with Kristian Tyson completing a four-goal contribution.
Egremont’s Aaron Turnbull and Mullen were yellow carded in the early stages for a set-to.
STANNINGLEY are a point shy of sixth-placed Oulton after registering a fifth successive win with a 32-6 win over LEIGH MINERS, who have lost six matches on the hoof.
The Miners, who were targeting a double double after the 28-12 triumph at Twist Lane – and were seeking to go level with Stanningley in the table – were 22-0 down at the break after conceding tries by Jacob Morgan, Jamain Ruan, Alfie Peach and Ben Selby.
Lucas Tyrer opened Leigh Miners’ account on 45 minutes, Callum Ashurst improving, but Stanningley eased home with a Connor Aveyard brace in the last twelve minutes, Zac Clayton adding his fourth goal.
SHAW CROSS SHARKS ended a four-match losing run by inflicting an eighth successive defeat on WIGAN ST PATRICKS, who had won 24-12 at Clarington Park.
The Sharks led 18-0 on 28 minutes, with the help of tries by Arian Woods, Paul Chitakunye and Ben Jeffers.
Pats made the most of the sinbinning of Spencer Rae for a professional foul by posting tries before the break for Ronan Bradbury and Fraser Steele, Jack Sproat’s two goals reducing the half-time deficit to 18-12.
But Shaw Cross posted touchdowns in the second period for Nathan Wright, Harry Smith and Jack Toulson, with Evan Stephenson completing a five-goal haul, before (after Jeffers had been yellow carded for a professional foul) Pats notched a consolation try by Connor Taylor.
SCOREBOARD
Wednesday 16 September
NATIONAL LEAGUE
PREMIER DIVISION
York Acorn 8 Lock Lane 30
Saturday 19 September
NATIONAL LEAGUE
PREMIER DIVISION
Heworth 12 Waterhead Warriors 42
Lock Lane 22 West Bowling 30
Siddal 13 Wath Brow Hornets 14
West Hull 20 Hunslet ARLFC 20
Wigan St Judes 16 Thatto Heath Crusaders 22
York Acorn 24 Rochdale Mayfield 22
DIVISION ONE
Dewsbury Moor Maroons 18 Dewsbury Celtic 18
Egremont Rangers 28 East Leeds 18
Kells 16 Oulton Raiders 14
Oldham St Annes 26 Pilkington Recs 16
Shaw Cross Sharks 34 Wigan St Patricks 16
Stanningley 32 Leigh Miners Rangers 6
CROSS-CONFERENCE PLAY-OFFS
GROUP A: Orrell St James 16 Hensingham 12; Fryston Warriors 34 Moldgreen 30.
GROUP B: Dalton 22 Mirfield Spartans 58; Blackbrook 22 Newsome Panthers 36.
GROUP C: Distington 12 Saddleworth Rangers 34; Keighley Albion 26 Skirlaugh 8.
GROUP D: Featherstone Lions 12 Ince Rose Bridge 26; Thornhill Trojans 24 Barrow Island 0.
SHIELD
GROUP A: Crosfields 24 Ellenborough Rangers 0.
GROUP B: Hull Dockers v King Cross Park -nr.
GROUP C: Maryport 42 Clock Face Miners 16.
GROUP D: Beverley 18 Leigh East 30.
GROUP E: Seaton Rangers 10 Kippax Welfare 22.
GROUP F: Woolston Rovers 34 Bentley 14.
GROUP G: Drighlington 50 Millom 16.
REGIONS
CUMBRIA MEN’S LEAGUE
PREMIER DIVISION: Askam 24 Cockermouth Titans 0; Wath Brow Hornets A 22 Lowca 8.
DIVISION ONE: Aspatria Hornets 24 Dalton A 0.
NORTH WEST MEN’S LEAGUE
PREMIER DIVISION: Hindley Stags 20 Halton Farnworth Hornets 22.
DIVISION ONE: Garswood Stags 54 Golborne Parkside 12.
DIVISION TWO: Thatto Heath Crusaders Academy 22 Portico Vine 18; Latchford Albion Giants 42 Saddleworth Rangers A 12.
ENTRY DIVISION: Chorley Panthers A 30 Blackbrook A 26.
MERIT DIVISION: Runcorn Highfield 32 Widnes St Maries 12.
YORKSHIRE MEN’S LEAGUE
PREMIER DIVISION GRAND FINAL: Doncaster Toll Bar 28 Ossett Trinity Tigers 20.
DIVISION ONE GRAND FINAL: Upton 34 York Barbarians 12.
DIVISION TWO GRAND FINAL: Eastmoor Dragons 36 West Hull 30.
DIVISION THREE GRAND FINAL: Dewsbury Moor 24 Queensbury 6.
DIVISION FOUR: Hemsworth Dragons 14 Batley 18.
DIVISION FIVE: Crigglestone All Blacks 21 York Acorn 18; Hull Wyke 24 Harrogate Hawks 0; York Acorn 24 Shaw Cross Sharks 0.
DIVISION SEVEN: Woodhouse Warriors 48 East Leeds 18; Boothtown Terriers 24 York Barbarians A 0.
FRIENDLIES: Boothtown Terriers 24 Army Select 16.
Fixtures
Saturday 26 September
NATIONAL LEAGUES
PREMIER DIVISION
Hunslet ARLFC v Siddal
Rochdale Mayfield v Wigan St Judes
Thatto Heath Crusaders v Lock Lane
Waterhead Warriors v York Acorn
Wath Brow Hornets v West Hull
West Bowling v Heworth
DIVISION ONE
Dewsbury Celtic v Kells
East Leeds v Oldham St Annes
Leigh Miners Rangers v Shaw Cross Sharks
Oulton Raiders v Egremont Rangers
Pilkington Recs v Stanningley
Wigan St Patricks v Dewsbury Moor Maroons
CROSS-CONFERENCE PLAY-OFFS
CHAMPIONSHIP QUARTER-FINALS: Orrell St James v Newsome Panthers; Blackbrook v Keighley Albion; Saddleworth Rangers v Featherstone Lions; Ince Rose Bridge v Fryston Warriors.
SHIELD (QUARTER-FINALS): Ashton Bears v Woolston Rovers; Milford v Drighlington; Myton Warriors v Clock Face Miners; Kippax Welfare v Crosfields.
REGIONS
NORTH WEST MEN’S LEAGUE
ENTRY DIVISION: Burtonwood Bridge v Cadishead Rhinos; Langworthy Reds v Widnes St Maries.
YORKSHIRE MEN’S LEAGUE
DIVISION 4: King Cross Park v Stanningley.
DIVISION 7: Clayton v Boothtown Terriers.