THATTO HEATH CRUSADERS are the latest title hopefuls to come a cropper at the hands of WEST HULL.

The Crusaders, who had been seeking to extend a four-match unbeaten run, went into their home game against the leaders fourth in the standings and, as the interval beckoned, harboured real hopes of inflicting a first defeat of the campaign on the pacesetters. 

Thatto were, at that stage, 8-6 ahead, courtesy of a Liam Kenyon try and two Alex Speakman goals.

But the Green and Golds, for whom Benn Arbon had crossed, went in front for the first time when Sam Rokonalewa dotted down to help forge a 12-8 interval lead.

And it was one-way traffic in the second period as the visitors completed a double after prevailing 20-18 in Hull.

Keiran Masike opened and closed Wests’ account in the last 40 minutes while Ryan Langton also nipped over and Jack Sanderson completed a four-goal contribution – including an important penalty on the hour which established an eight-point buffer.

The Heath slipped to fifth, below SIDDAL, who prevailed 28-6 at WEST BOWLING, who were seeking a double after winning 20-16 in Halifax.

Bowling, who are in danger of losing touch with the top-six play-off berths, enjoyed a bright start with a try and goal in the tenth minute by Lewis Camden. 

It stayed that way until six minutes before half-time, when Jamie Greenwood opened Siddal’s account and Harvey Williams added the extras. 

A Williams penalty-goal secured an 8-6 interval lead and Siddal were ten points clear by the hour, Williams having converted the first of tries by Edward Barber and Henry Turner.

An 80-metre interception score by Christian Ackroyd on 71 minutes shattered Bowling’s lingering hopes – Williams improving – and Siddal sealed a morale-boosting triumph after the previous week’s narrow defeat at the hands of West Hull when Dom Booth crashed in as the final whistle approached.

Second-placed WATERHEAD registered a ninth successive win with a 70-0 success over bottom side ROCHDALE MAYFIELD, who have yet to win this time.

The Warriors, who had prevailed 32-10 in Rochdale, had a key figure in former Mayfield man Tyrone Chipchase, who scored four tries.

Harrison Dodd grabbed a hat-trick against visitors for whom Nick Hargreaves was the pick of the 17, and who had Jack McConnachie sinbinned on the hour for a slap.

Waterhead, who were 26-0 ahead at half-time, also posted two tries apiece to Vinny Arthurs and Ciaran Dean, while Adam Robinson and Scott Parnaby also nipped over. Kegan Brennan landed nine goals.

HUNSLET ARLFC completed a double over 16-man LOCK LANE, who had lost 32-6 in Castleford, with a 68-0 triumph, earned despite the dismissal on 15 minutes of Jamie Fields for an alleged high tackle.

The Lane, who are now only outside the drop zone on points difference to Heworth after three successive defeats, suffered by far their heaviest loss this season despite the efforts of fullback Kyle Cranswick. 

The south Leeds side, who were 32-0 ahead at the interval, closed with a Stan Boyes hat-trick, a Josh McLelland brace and touchdowns for Craig McShane, Tyler Dargan, Harry Dodd, Caelum Jordan, Shane Jackson, Joe Abson and Danny Sowerby, with Harry Shackleton kicking ten goals.

A penalty-goal two minutes from time by Matt Chilton, awarded for a late challenge ten metres in front of the posts, helped YORK ACORN to a 14-12 victory at neighbours HEWORTH.

Acorn, who had beaten the Villagers 32-6 at home, duly ended a run of nine games without a win and leapfrogged their hosts out of the bottom two.

Visiting Acorn, who have also gone above Lock Lane on points difference, were never behind. Chilton converted Will McArdle’s early try before his side had Luke Smales yellow carded for a dangerous tackle.

Harrison Briggs replied for Heworth, for whom Ryan Gallacher was sinbinned for dissent as the interval approached.

Jack Sadler restored parity with a penalty-goal three minutes after the restart before Acorn’s Ben Hodder and the Villagers’ Fraser West traded tries, Chilton and Sadler adding the respective extras.

Then, with a draw looking likely, up stepped Chilton to land the deciding goal.

It was a similar story at WATH BROW HORNETS, where WIGAN ST JUDES edged a 24-22 win with a try in the closing seconds for Danny Cassidy.

Judes, who are now only behind sixth-placed Hornets on points difference, had been held to a 12-12 draw in Wigan and scored other tries through Harry Parkinson (who was later yellow carded for dissent), Reece McNally, Jacob Dugdale and Sadiq Ayanlaja-Lowo, two of which Cassidy converted.

Wath Brow had led through a Karl Dixon brace and tries for Conrad Dockwray and Fran King, plus three Jake Moore goals.

DIVISION ONE pacesetters KELLS remain top after having the better of the second period to account for EGREMONT RANGERS 44-16 in the Cumbrian derby.

Rangers, who were 12-10 ahead at the break courtesy of a try and two goals by Joe Lewis and a Tom Houghton touchdown, were 38-12 behind when Sam Williams next scored, on 72 minutes.

Egremont, who have lost four of their last five games, are now four points shy of third-placed Dewsbury Moor.

The Miners, meanwhile, gained revenge for the 26-18 away defeat with a brace apiece for Tyce Walmsley and Lewis Smith, while Ross Gainford contributed a try and six goals. James Ennis, Clarke Chambers and Jacob Hodgson also crossed for the Whitehaven side.

Second-placed DEWSBURY CELTIC notched a first win in four outings with a 52-0 triumph over STANNINGLEY, who have lost four of their last five fixtures and are now too close to the relegation zone for comfort.

The visitors’ Elliot Whitaker impressed but could do little to prevent Joel Gibson from scoring four tries – although Celtic, who led 40-0 at the break, were denied any further score until five minutes from time.

Jordan Hirst chipped in with a try and eight goals and there were also touchdowns for Alex Wighton, Casey Canterbury, Dylan Kinderlaw and Drew Judge-Clarke as a double was completed following the 22-18 victory in west Leeds.

LEIGH MINERS RANGERS are seventh (in reality, sixth, as Wigan St Patricks will be deducted four points at the end of the season for failing to fulfil their fixture at Dewsbury Moor) following a 36-22 win at second-bottom PILKINGTON RECS, who have lost three of their last four games.

Rangers owed their victory to a strong opening, a 22-0 lead having been established in as many minutes with the help of tries by Matt Parkes, Ben Turner, Jack Hamer and Noah Lancelott.

Pilks, who had lost 28-18 at Twist Lane, had the better of the rest of the contest, Aidyn Jones and Tom Eastwood crossing twice and Lewis Davies also dotting down.

Tom Connick added a goal but Rangers stayed out of sight with tries by Harry Darby, Diego Walker and Andy Philbin, Darby closing with four conversions.

Bottom side OLDHAM ST ANNES claimed a second win of the season, exacting retribution for a 24-20 away reverse with a 38-30 victory over WIGAN ST PATRICKS.

Pats had looked likely winners ten minutes into the second period, by which stage a 30-14 lead had been established with three tries and three goals for Conor Taylor, while Cassius Turner-Walsh had bagged a brace and Lewis Armstrong had crossed.

Annes, though, got back into contention with touchdowns for Ady Gleeson and Jubril Olajide and nosed in front when it mattered with tries in the last 14 minutes for Jack Etchells and Hayden Howarth. Charlie McManus added each conversion in a seven-goal tally.

Dylan Turner and Olajide had grabbed Annes’ opening scores.

EAST LEEDS gained revenge for the 19-18 home defeat with a 26-10 win at OULTON RAIDERS, for whom Nathan Waring opened and closed the scoring, Archie Craggs converting the second effort. 

The Raiders, who were targeting a fourth win on the trot, were thwarted by touchdowns for Kane Riley, Kiedan Hartley (who was later sinbinned for a professional foul), Andy Wilson and, twice, Will Simpson.

Luke Littlewood landed three goals for Easts, who have now gone three games without defeat.