WATERHEAD WARRIORS registered a stunning 28-8 victory at HUNSLET ARLFC to go third in the PREMIER DIVISION – just to points adrift of the second-placed south Leeds outfit.
The hosts, seeking a fifth successive win, nosed in front with a Jordan Gale penalty-goal on 18 minutes but lost Jake Dearden to the sin bin on 31 minutes for retaliation.
The Warriors’ Harrison Dodd crossed in Dearden’s absence, the first of Kegan Brennan’s four goals helping establish a 6-2 interval lead.
Tyrone Chipchase nipped over for the Oldham side six minutes into the second period but Hunslet ARLFC were only two points adrift when Gale improved Jaden Barraclough’s try on the hour.
Waterhead, however, dominated the closing quarter to mark a fifth win on the trot with unanswered touchdowns by Brennan, James Perks and, despite the sinbinning of Matty Fletcher for a late tackle, Brennan again.
Leaders WEST HULL are now four points clear of Hunslet ARLFC after maintaining their 100 percent winning record with a 38-6 victory over WIGAN ST JUDES, who are in danger of losing touch with the play-off berths after prevailing in only one of their last six games.
Wests were 18-0 up, thanks to a Josh Jarvis try, a brace for Jack Lazenby and a Jack Sanderson touchdown, before Saints’ Elliott Garrido was red carded for alleged dissent on 32 minutes.
Mason Opie-Palmer, who scored a hat-trick in a 16-minute period straddling the break, notched his opener before the interval – Judes’ coach Dave Myerscough then being sent off for alleged dissent – and although the visitors posted a try by Connor Parkinson and a Danny Fallon conversion as the game entered the final quarter, the hosts had the last word with a second try for Sanderson, who added his second goal. Jack Potter also improved a Wests score.
Bottom side ROCHDALE MAYFIELD came agonisingly close to registering a first win of the season.
Mayfield led YORK ACORN, who had lost their previous six games, 24-16 from the 66th minute, but Josh Thompson’s second try and Matt Chilton’s third conversion pegged the hosts back to two points.
Acorn’s prospects looked very slim when Thompson was sinbinned on 77 minutes for a professional foul but, with the seconds ticking away, Mayfield’s Zac Baker was penalised in front of his own posts for ripping out and Chilton booted a penalty-goal to level matters at 24-24.
Mayfield had led through tries by Reece Hamlett, Calum Burn, Noah Lawton and Joe Taira, with Cole Connolly and Ieuan Higgs landing a couple of goals apiece. Luke Swales and Jack Wootton scored Acorn’s other tries.
THATTO HEATH, who have lost three of their last four games, have tumbled from third to sixth after a 32-4 reverse at WATH BROW HORNETS, who have now gone four matches without defeat.
The Cumbrians, who were 18-0 ahead at the interval, led 30-0 before Adam Tubey scampered over for Thatto as the game entered the final quarter.
Sam Curwen, who closed with a try and six goals, duly wrapped up the Brow’s win with a late penalty-goal. Hornets had previously posted touchdowns to Dean Rooney, Nat Doogan, Conor Molyneaux and Deen Pattinson.
Sixth-placed SIDDAL beat HEWORTH, who remain second-from-bottom, 42-16.
The Villagers were 16-0 adrift before Zach Towse claimed the first of his three tries, two of which Jack Sadler converted.
Otherwise, though, Siddal dominated with a Josh Milnes brace and tries by Jacob Grierson, Baily Tait, Sam Walsh, Henry Turner, Jamie Greenwood and Michael Holmes, five of which Harvey Williams improved.
Relegation-haunted LOCK LANE were 12-0 ahead at play-off hopefuls WEST BOWLING, courtesy of tries by Max Hope and Morgan Jones, with Morgan Punchard landing the first two of his four goals, but a series of subsequent cards proved to be costly.
Hakin Aydin copped yellow on 17 minutes for a late hit – shortly after Owen Simpson had opened for Wests and Harvey Williams had kicked the first of his five goals – and Tom Newbound was sinbinned six minutes before the break, the Lane seeing an 18-16 lead turned into a 24-18 deficit in his absence.
The visitors also had Ryan Backhouse sent off as the hour approached, with Bowling’s Ellis Hobson also seeing red in the incident.
The sides were level at 24-24 at that stage but Wests went on to win 34-24, thanks to Hayden Spence’s late brace.
Lewis Magson, Alix Stephenson and Chris Cullimore also crossed for the Bradford side while the Lane had been level through a Connor McGrath touchdown and Jones’ second score.
DIVISION ONE leaders KELLS beat visitors EAST LEEDS, who had a full complement of players, 62-4.
The Cumbrians were 22-0 ahead before Easts notched their only try, by Logan Roberts, to reduce the half-time score to 22-4.
Otherwise, it was one-way traffic. Dan Grears scored three tries (two in the first half) while Clarke Chambers grabbed a hat-trick in the second period.
Jacob Hodgson, Karl Garner, Ryan Starkie, Lewis Smith and Oscar Cook closed the home account while Ross Gainford kicked nine goals.
WIGAN ST PATRICKS, who have lost four of their last five games, recovered from 12-0 down against second-placed DEWSBURY CELTIC to only 12-10 behind with tries by Reece Rowcroft and Conor Taylor, plus a Jack Sproat goal.
Pats, though, were 22 points behind before Ben Harper crossed in the second half, and 30 points adrift when Sproat grabbed a late consolation try which Taylor improved.
Joel Gibson scored two tries and five goals for Celtic, Nat Lawrence got a try and a conversion, and other touchdowns went to Lewis Teal, Billy Yarrow, Josh Frain, Casey Canterbury and Joe Mitchell.
In a fractious last 25 minutes, Pats had three men (Taylor, Matty Ellis and Adam O’Neill) sinbinned for dissent, while Celtic’s Alex Whiteholt (high tackle) and Gibson (dangerous tackle) were also yellow carded.
DEWSBURY MOOR and EGREMONT were level at 18-18 at half-time, but the Maroons stepped up a gear thereafter to prevail 52-18 and keep up the pressure on the top two.
Louie Walker closed with 32 points from four tries and eight goals, Jake Butterfield crossed twice, and Bradley Adams, Anthony Boardman and Mitchell Gray closed the account.
Rangers’ Connor Williams, who scored a hat-trick, was unlucky to finish on the losing side. Joe Lewis added each goal as the Cumbrians failed to extend a four-match winning run.
PILKINGTON RECS are off the foot of the table after recovering from 18-6 down at STANNINGLEY with ten minutes left to win 22-18 with two tries by Aidyn Jones and a Tyler Duberry effort, while Tom Connick landed three goals in all.
Scott Simmons opened the Recs’ account while Stanningley led through Zack Clayton’s conversions of tries by Will Barker, Jack Hepworth and Alfie Peach.
OLDHAM ST ANNES, who lost 36-12 at home to SHAW CROSS, are now bottom.
The Saints were 12-4 ahead in the first half thanks to Matt Whitehead’s conversions of tries by Kendal Davis and Lachlan Delbridge.
But the Sharks duly registered a first win in four games with unanswered touchdowns by Brad Wakenshaw, Harry Wharton, Jack Toulson, Spencer Rae, Harry Smith and Ben Land, plus four Evan Stephenson goals. Toulson had opened for the visitors.
OULTON RAIDERS and LEIGH MINERS RANGERS will have to try again after their fixture was abandoned at half-time because of a calf injury sustained by referee Peter Smith.
The Miners were 18-6 ahead but the result will not stand, at least 60 minutes play being required under regulations.