ROCHDALE MAYFIELD posted a first victory of the season, after having had only a draw to ‘celebrate’ in their opening fourteen fixtures, with a 30-18 success over HEWORTH.

The Villagers, who had prevailed 44-4 in York, are deeply embroiled in the relegation dogfight but, perversely, have risen out of the bottom two, above Lock Lane on points’ difference.

Mayfield, who were 20-0 ahead at the break, went 24-0 up when Jack Schofield crossed three minutes after the restart.

Riley Barstow quickly replied for Heworth, Jack Sadler adding the first of his three conversions, but the hosts restored their 24-point lead when Harry Sheridan grabbed his second try and Cole Connolly booted his fifth goal.

Touchdowns by Ben Metcalfe and Jacob Smith-Andrews had helped give Rochdale their early buffer, which was to some degree needed in the light of closing tries by the visitors’ Bailey Jones and Freddie Wilson.

LOCK LANE have dropped into the relegation zone, on points’ difference to Heworth, after losing 48-24 at second-placed WATERHEAD.

The Warriors, who have now gone ten games without defeat, trailed 16-6 midway through the first half and 20-18 early in the second period but stepped up a gear to approach the half-century with, until Kieran Purdy’s late effort for the Lane, unanswered tries by Ciaran Dean, Scott Parnaby, Vinny Arthurs, Tyrone Chipchase and Harrison Dodd. 

Dean, Nathan Mason and Harry Barker had opened for Waterhead with Dean (7) and Arthurs – with one success – adding goals. 

Lock Lane, who had been edged 28-26 in Castleford, had led through touchdowns for Matthew Rolls, Lewis Price, Tom Gibson and Purdy, two which Nathan Fozzard improved.

THATTO HEATH’S hopes of leapfrogging hosts SIDDAL into fourth spot were very much alive at the break, when a deserved 8-4 lead had been established with an Adam Saunders brace, scored in response to Oliver Lewis’ opener.

The home side, however, regained the lead when Josh Barlow nipped over four minutes after the restart. And tries on 68 and 71 minutes respectively for Josh Milnes and Jamie Greenwood, with Harvey Williams converting all three second-half scores, sealed the ‘double’ (despite the sin-binning of Jacob Grierson shortly before the break for a professional foul) after the 28-12 verdict in St Helens.

The juggernaut that is WEST HULL continues to appear unstoppable!

The Green & Golds remain clear at the head of the table courtesy of a 32-12 win over WEST BOWLING, whose hopes of making the play-offs are beginning to look slim.

Hull fell behind to an early Liam Coe penalty but were 24-2 ahead a minute into the second half, Josh Wood, Mason Opie-Palmer, Bobby Tyson-Wilson and Jack Sanderson having crossed (Bowling’s Oliver Bartle copping a yellow card for dissent in the middle of that salvo) while Sanderson landed four goals.

Jack Watts stormed in as the hour beckoned and, after Lewis Magson and Lewis Camden replied for the Bradford side – Harry Williams adding a conversion – the champions-elect sealed the ‘double’, after their 24-14 away win, with Opie-Palmer’s second score.

HUNSLET ARLFC, who had beaten WATH BROW HORNETS 26-16 in south Leeds, completed the ‘double’ with a 22-12 verdict in Cumbria. 

Hornets have now lost three of their last four fixtures; third-placed Hunslet, who have won three of their last four matches, were well on the way to victory when, as the hour approached, a 22-0 lead had been established with tries by Tyler Dargan, Michael Waite, Harry Shackleton – who kicked three goals – and Jack McShane.

Wath Brow, who are in the top-six on points’ difference from WIGAN ST JUDES (whose game at YORK ACORN was postponed because of an unfit pitch caused by the recent heatwave) had to settle for two consolation tries in the final quarter for Connor Molyneaux, both of which Sam Curwen improved.

DIVISION ONE leaders KELLS returned from their fixture at bottom side OLDHAM ST ANNES with a 40-14 win under their belts.

The Miners, who had prevailed 36-12 in Cumbria, notched a third successive win – while the Saints have lost five of their last six games – after scoring a Tyce Walmsley try in the second minute, with Harley Nelson appending the first of his six goals.

Kayden Murray replied for Annes some six minutes later but Kells were 40-4 ahead with eight minutes left, thanks to a second try by Walmsley, a Jacob Hodgson brace and touchdowns by Aaron Burns, Dan Grears and Ryan Starkie.

Matt Whitehead and Charlie McManus (who goaled his own effort) crossed in the last couple of minutes but it was, quite simply, too little too late for the hosts.

DEWSBURY CELTIC are still on Kells’ coat-tails after a 28-6 success at OULTON RAIDERS, who are three points shy of the play-off berths.

Celtic had to wait until the 21st minute before Joel Gibson crossed but the visitors, who had won 32-2 at Crows’ Nest Park, were 18-0 ahead at lemons-time, by which stage Gibson had grabbed his second score and Jordan Hirst had scored a try and three goals.

Drew Judge-Clark and Joe Mitchell added touchdowns inside the first eleven minutes of the second period, Hirst landing another conversion, before Oulton had the last word when Archie Craggs converted Adrian Holdsworth’s try twelve minutes from time.

Celtic’s neighbours, DEWSBURY MOOR MAROONS, enjoyed a similarly emphatic success in Leeds, beating STANNINGLEY 36-8.

The hosts, who had won at Celtic 8-6, were only 12-8 behind at the break, having bounced back from a try and two goals by Louie Walker and a Kieren Hepworth touchdown with a Jacob Morgan effort, Sam Oldroyd adding the extras and a subsequent penalty.

It was, though, one-way traffic in the second half, when Hepworth added two more tries for his hat-trick.

George Woodcock and Jackson Walker also popped in and Louie Walker completed a six-goal contribution.

The Maroons, who are five points behind Celtic but have two games in hand, are certainly eyeing a place in the top two – and automatic promotion – while Stanningley are only four points clear of the drop-zone.

PILKINGTON RECS are showing little sign of being able to overhaul Stanningley, however, and the second-from-bottom side travelled with only 15 players to EAST LEEDS, who exacted retribution for the 32-16 defeat in St Helens with a 54-10 triumph.

Pilks, who have lost their last three games, rallied from 16-0 down to only six points behind with tries by Lewis Griffiths and Tom Connick, the latter adding a goal.

But Easts, who have won three and drawn the other of their last four fixtures, duly laid a marker for the promotion play-offs with unanswered tries by Luke Littlewood, Kane Riley (twice), Nehemiah Mensah, Luke Mullen, Will Simpson and Moris Kamano, with Littlewood completing a seven-goal tally. 

Jake Walker, Kieran Brining and Simpson had opened for Easts.

LEIGH MINERS RANGERS gained revenge for the 30-28 defeat at WIGAN ST PATRICKS with a 28-16 victory in Thursday evening’s return fixture.

The result hinged to some degree on the yellow card shown to Pats’ Cass Turner three minutes before the break, for an alleged tip-tackle. 

Leigh were, at that stage, 18-16 ahead, but the hosts went on to score the only points of the second period with touchdowns on 52 and 78 minutes for Noah Lancelot, the first of which was improved by Callum Ashurst.

Ashurst had already converted first-half tries by Matt Parkes, Lloyd Carpenter and Harry Darby while Pats, who had opened through Brad Wooten, had recovered from 12-4 down to lead 16-12 with two Conor Taylor tries, both of which Isaac Wheatley goaled.

SHAW CROSS SHARKS, who had edged EGREMONT RANGERS 24-22 in Dewsbury, seemed to find the going somewhat easier in the return in Cumbria.

The Sharks, who won 40-18, were 16-0 ahead at the break, thanks to a try and two goals by Evan Stephenson and touchdowns for Nathan Wright and Harrison Sutcliffe. 

Egremont recovered to 22-12, courtesy of tries by Jack Pae and Lachlan McDowell, but Stephenson nipped over between-times.

The visitors went on to register touchdowns by Lewis Fisher, Paul Chitakunye and Wright, with Stephenson completing a six-goal contribution in helping avoid a third successive defeat, before Rangers closed the scoring with McDowell’s second score and Joe Lewis’ third goal.

Egremont remain in the top six while Shaw Cross are a point shy of the play-off berths. 

SCOREBOARD
Wednesday 8 July
CONFERENCE REGIONS
NATIONAL CONFERENCE NORTH WEST: Woolston Rovers v Clock Face Miners -pp.
Thursday 9 July
NATIONAL LEAGUE
DIVISION ONE
Leigh Miners Rangers 28 Wigan St Patricks 16
Friday 10 July
CONFERENCE REGIONS
NATIONAL CONFERENCE CUMBRIA: Ellenborough 12 Distington 16.
REGIONS
CUMBRIA MEN’S LEAGUE
PREMIER DIVISION: Flimby Vikings 6 Kells A 42.
Saturday 11 July
NATIONAL LEAGUE
PREMIER DIVISION
Rochdale Mayfield 30 Heworth 18
Siddal 22 Thatto Heath Crusaders 8
Waterhead Warriors 48 Lock Lane 24
Wath Brow Hornets 12 Hunslet ARLFC 22
West Hull 32 West Bowling 12
York Acorn v Wigan St Judes -pp (unfit pitch)
DIVISION ONE
East Leeds 54 Pilkington Recs 10
Egremont Rangers 18 Shaw Cross Sharks 40
Oldham St Annes 14 Kells 40
Oulton Raiders 6 Dewsbury Celtic 28
Stanningley 8 Dewsbury Moor Maroons 36
CONFERENCE REGIONS
NATIONAL CONFERENCE CUMBRIA: Hindpool Tigers 28 Millom 29; Seaton Rangers 12 Barrow Island 54.
NATIONAL CONFERENCE NORTH WEST: Crosfields 32 Blackbrook 16; Leigh East 18 Ashton Bears 30; Orrell St James 4 Ince Rose Bridge 10; Woolston Rovers 14 Saddleworth Rangers 26.
NATIONAL CONFERENCE SOUTH: Brentwood Eels v Bedford Tigers -nr; London Chargers v Hammersmith Hill Hoists -nr; North Herts Crusaders v Bristol All Golds -nr; Wests Warriors v Eastern Rhinos -nr.
NATIONAL CONFERENCE YORKSHIRE A: Bradford Dudley Hill 20 Myton Warriors 28; Drighlington v Beverley -nr; Keighley Albion v Mirfield Spartans -nr; Moldgreen v King Cross Park -nr; Thornhill Trojans 40 Stanley Rangers 16.
NATIONAL CONFERENCE YORKSHIRE B: Bentley 16 Skirlaugh 30; Fryston Warriors 40 Kippax Welfare 14; Hull Dockers 4 Featherstone Lions 46; Milford 13 Newsome Panthers 6; Normanton Knights 18 Siddal Academy 40.
REGIONS
LONDON & SOUTH EAST
PREMIER DIVISION: Wests Warriors A v Hemel Stags -nr; Brixton Bulls 24 Anglian Vipers 0; Elmbridge Eagles 24 Bedford Tigers A 0; London Chargers A v Medway Dragons -nr.
CUMBRIA MEN’S LEAGUE
PREMIER DIVISION: Cockermouth Titans 62 Lowca 14; Roose Pioneers v Wath Brow Hornets A -nr.
DIVISION 1: Hensingham A 26 Aspatria Hornets 40.
MIDLANDS
PREMIER DIVISION: Nottingham Outlaws v Birmingham Bulldogs -nr; Sherwood Wolf Hunt 24 Aston Warriors 0; Telford Raiders 40 Coventry Bears 12.
DIVISION 1/MERIT: Nottingham Outlaws A v Leamington Royals -nr; Peterborough v Sherwood Wolf Hunt A -nr; Worcester Rebels v North East Worcestershire Ravens -nr; North Midlands Knights v Staffordshire Quantums -nr.
NORTH WEST MEN’S LEAGUE
PREMIER DIVISION: Hindley Stags 30 West Bank Bears 0; Halton Farnworth Hornets 22 Folly Lane 18; Heysham Atoms 0 Shevington Sharks 52; Westhoughton Lions v Waterhead Warriors A -nr; Wigan St Judes 34 Chorley Panthers 24.
DIVISION 1: Leigh Miners Rangers A v Salford City Roosters -nr; Newton Storm 24 Wigan St Cuthberts 0; Spring View 34 Golborne Parkside 35.
DIVISION 2: Hindley Stags Reserves 32 Portico Vine 6; Blackpool Scorpions 20 Oldham St Annes A 24; Saddleworth Rangers A v Clock Face Miners A -nr; Thatto Heath Crusaders Academy 24 Orrell St James A 0.
ENTRY DIVISION: Ince Rose Bridge A 0 Widnes St Maries 36; Blackbrook A v Leigh East A -nr; Chorley Panthers A v Hindley Stags Reserves -nr; Langworthy Reds v Accrington Wildcats -nr; Salford City Roosters A v Burtonwood Bridge -nr; Rylands Sharks v Woolston Rovers A -nr; Wigan Bulldogs 22 Westhoughton Lions A 22; Chorley Panthers A v Chester Gladiators -nr.
YORKSHIRE MEN’S LEAGUE
PREMIER DIVISION: Doncaster Toll Bar 40 Dodworth Miners 14; East Hull 32 Brighouse Rangers 22; Ossett Trinity Tigers v Newcastle Lightning -nr.
DIVISION 1: Upton v Emley Moor -nr; Wibsey Warriors 18 Seacroft Sharks 20; Stainland Stags 22 Birstall Victoria 18; York Barbarians 14 Sharlston Rovers 16.
DIVISION 2: Cutsyke Raiders 10 West Hull 42; Eastmoor Dragons v Derby Elks -nr; Lindley St Joseph’s v Goole Vikings -nr.
DIVISION 3: Moortown Mambas v Birkenshaw Blue Dogs -nr; Dewsbury Celtic v Underbank Rangers -nr; Dewsbury Moor v Drighlington -nr; Moortown Mambas v Birkenshaw Blue Dogs -nr; Queensbury 24 Bramley Buffaloes 0.
DIVISION 4: King Cross Park v Stanningley -nr; Ossett Trinity Tigers Academy v Keighley Albion -nr.
DIVISION 5: Crigglestone All Blacks v Methley Warriors -nr; Farnley Falcons 20 New Earswick All Blacks 48; York Acorn v Harrogate Hawks -pp; Hull Wyke 24 Shaw Cross Sharks 0.
DIVISION 6: Guiseley Rangers 6 Garforth Tigers 48; Milford 32 Moorends Thorne Marauders 6; Rycroft Hammers 54 Moldgreen Rams 4.
DIVISION 7: Boothtown Terriers v Clayton -pp; East Leeds v York Barbarians A -nr.
ENTRY: Heworth v Odsal Sedbergh -pp; Lock Lane v West Bowling Academy -pp; Skirlaugh Academy v Illingworth -pp.
FRIENDLY: Hull Wyke A 58 Featherstone Lions 10; Lock Lane 20 Stanningley 10

Fixtures
Wednesday 15 July
REGIONS
LONDON & SOUTH EAST
PREMIER DIVISION: Anglian Vipers v London Chargers A.
CUMBRIA MEN’S LEAGUE
TROPHY: Kells A v Egremont Rangers A.
Friday 17 July
CUMBRIA MEN’S LEAGUE
SHIELD: Maryport A v Flimby Vikings.
YORKSHIRE MEN’S LEAGUE
FRIENDLY: Doncaster Toll Bar A v Chesterfield Forgers.
Saturday 18 July
NATIONAL LEAGUE
DIVISION ONE
Oulton Raiders v Leigh Miners Rangers
Shaw Cross Sharks v Dewsbury Moor Maroons
CONFERENCE REGIONS
NATIONAL CONFERENCE CUMBRIA: Distington v Hindpool Tigers; Hensingham v Dalton; Maryport v Ulverston.
NATIONAL CONFERENCE NORTH WEST: Clock Face Miners v Ashton Bears.
NATIONAL CONFERENCE SOUTH: Hammersmith Hill Hoists v Wests Warriors; Eastern Rhinos v North Herts Crusaders.
NATIONAL CONFERENCE YORKSHIRE A: Myton Warriors v Drighlington; Stanley Rangers v Beverley.
NATIONAL CONFERENCE YORKSHIRE B: Siddal Academy v Fryston Warriors.
REGIONS
LONDON & SOUTH EAST
PREMIER DIVISION: Anglian Vipers v Wests Warriors A; Hemel Stags v Elmbridge Eagles; Medway Dragons v Brixton Bulls.
CUMBRIA MEN’S LEAGUE
CUP: Wath Brow Hornets A v Askam; Lowca v Aspatria Hornets.
TROPHY: Roose Pioneers v Cockermouth Titans.
SHIELD: Hensingham A v Glasson Rangers.
NORTH WEST MEN’S LEAGUE
CUP (GROUP 1): Shevington Sharks v Waterhead Warriors A; Spring View v Chorley Panthers.
CUP (GROUP 2): West Bank Bears v Halton Farnworth Hornets; Salford City Roosters v Bank Quay Bulls.
CUP (GROUP 3): Westhoughton Lions v Hindley Stags; Newton Storm v Garswood Stags.
CUP (GROUP 4): Golborne Parkside v Folly Lane; Leigh Miners Rangers A v Heysham Atoms.
SHIELD (GROUP 1): Hindley Stags Reserves v Accrington Wildcats; Latchford Albion Giants v Thatto Heath Crusaders Academy.
SHIELD (GROUP 2): Clock Face Miners A v Orrell St James A; Crosfields A v Woolston Rovers A.
SHIELD (GROUP 3): Ashton Bears A v Westhoughton Lions A; Oldham St Annes A v Ince Rose Bridge A.
ENTRY DIVISION: Blackbrook A v Rylands Sharks.
YORKSHIRE MEN’S LEAGUE
CUP: Ossett Trinity Tigers v Doncaster Toll Bar; Hunslet v Newcastle Lightning.
PLATE: Heworth v Skirlaugh Bulls; Milford v Boothtown Terriers.
SHIELD: Hull Wyke v Crigglestone All Blacks; Sherburn Bears v Stanningley.
DIVISION 1: Emley Moor v York Barbarians.
DIVISION 2: Lindley St Joseph’s v Derby Elks.