FEELING on top of the world!
That’s WEST HULL, who made certain of PREMIER DIVISION pole position in the first season of the National League system with a 34-12 victory at WIGAN ST JUDES, whose hopes of featuring in the top-six Championship play-offs look remote after a fifth successive defeat.
Wests, who have won all 19 of their league games so far, including a 38-6 home triumph over Judes, opened with a try by Jack Sanderson, who added the first of his five goals.
Saints quickly levelled through Danny Fallon’s conversion of a Calum Palmer effort but three knock-ons around the half-hour mark, plus back-to-back penalty-goals, gave Wests the platform from which Sanderson and Josh Wood crossed before the break to help establish an 18-6 interval lead.
Eligh Wilkinson and Corey Priestman added touchdowns by the hour and Wilkinson grabbed his second score as the game entered the closing quarter.
Dasos Papakyriacou replied on 75 minutes, Dec Parkinson improving, but it was, quite simply, too little too late for the home side.
HUNSLET ARLFC leapfrogged WATERHEAD WARRIORS into second place with a 28-12 win in Oldham.
A sixth successive win – and revenge for the 28-8 home reverse in south Leeds – was secured through a try and four goals for Harry Shackleton and touchdowns by George Rayner, Joe Abson, Ben Shulver and Tommy Corke.
The Warriors, whose cause wasn’t helped by the sinbinning of Callum Cameron in the early stages for leading with the elbow, trailed 14-0 midway through the first half and were limited to tries by Harrison Dodd and Ciaran Dean, both of which Kegan Brennan improved.
SIDDAL, who scooped the League Leaders’ Shield in both of the National Conference League’s last two seasons but missed out in each Grand Final, have risen to third – above Waterhead – courtesy of a sixth successive win.
Relegation-haunted HEWORTH, who had been beaten 42-16 in Halifax, were the latest victims, defeated 54-10, and remain three points shy of third-bottom York Acorn after a sixth defeat on the hoof.
Siddal were 32-0 ahead at the break, having posted tries by Zak Baker, Harry Williams, Oliver Lewis, Lewis Hosty, Jamie Greenwood and Henry Turner, with Williams landing the first four of his five goals.
Lewis completed his hat-trick within ten minutes of the restart with two more tries, before Ben Barnard opened Heworth’s account on 56 minutes and Dan Clarke improved.
However, Harry Milnes, Baker and Williams dotted down in the final quarter for the visitors, Heworth posting the contest’s penultimate score with a Harrison Briggs try.
THATTO HEATH CRUSADERS and WATH BROW HORNETS, who are fifth and sixth respectively and all but certain to partake in the play-offs, fought out a 16-16 draw in St Helens.
The Crusaders had the chance to snatch victory with a late penalty awarded for a high tackle but Ryan Houghton’s attempt, from midway between the posts and the touchline, drifted wide.
Hornets had been unable to make the most of the dismissal of Thatto’s Jamie Tracey on 53 minutes for alleged dissent, although Jamie Greenough crossed immediately to stretch a 12-10 lead to six points.
Thatto, however, restored parity when McKenzie Buckley darted in with three minutes left and Houghton added his second goal.
Hornets’ Sam Curwen had earlier converted tries by Reuben Butterworth and Karl Dixon, while the Heath led 10-6 at the break with touchdowns to Adam Saunders and Jamie Holroyd.
Bottom side ROCHDALE MAYFIELD must now win all of their last three games – and hope that third-bottom York Acorn lose all theirs – to have any chance of survival.
And Acorn’s huge advantage in the points difference stakes renders even that scenario, in reality, impossible.
Mayfield’s predicament was compounded by a 48-20 home reverse at the hands of LOCK LANE, who had prevailed 22-12 in Castleford and have themselves nosed above Acorn.
The hosts went in front with a Cole Connolly penalty-goal but were 24-2 adrift at the break and 30-2 behind early in the second period, having leaked tries by Lewis Price, Leyton Davies, Connor Wilson (two) and Curtis Siddons.
Connolly converted tries by Charlie Warburton and Jack McConnachie by way of response, only for Siddons and Keiran Purdy to hit back for the visitors.
McConnachie dotted down for Mayfield, Connolly again improving before (after their teammate Jake Johnson was sinbinned on 77 minutes for striking) but the Lane sealed it with a Morgan Jones effort and Callum Butler’s eighth goal from as many attempts.
YORK ACORN lost 20-16 to WEST BOWLING, who completed a double after their 22-18 victory in Bradford.
Wests trailed 16-10 as the hour beckoned but ended a four-match losing run with a Liam Darville brace and Harry Williams’ second goal.
Acorn, who have lost three of their last four games, led through tries by Nick Speck, Aaron Walker and Matt Chilton (the latter having been sinbinned on 25 minutes for a professional foul) plus two Ant Chilton goals while Bowling had posted touchdowns for Lewis Galtress and Haydn Spence.
DEWSBURY CELTIC have leapfrogged Kells to the head of DIVISION ONE.
Celtic are top after winning 60-12 at relegation-haunted PILKINGTON RECS, who had battled back from 16-0 down to only 20-12 adrift early in the second period with two Jamie Smith tries and Josh O’Connell’s conversions.
But the visitors, who had won 76-0 in Dewsbury, upped the tempo to close with two tries each for Jordan Hirst, Drew Judge-Clark and Casey Canterbury.
Dom Senior, Cal Wilkins, Joel Gibson, Joe Edwards and Luke Johnson also crossed while Hirst and Gibson booted four goals apiece in a sixth successive win.
The cause of Pilks, who have lost their last seven games, wasn’t helped by the sinbinning of O’Connell on 63 minutes, when Celtic led 36-12, for a professional foul.
A six-match winning run came to an end for KELLS at EAST LEEDS, who exacted retribution for the 62-4 defeat in Cumbria with a 30-6 triumph.
Easts, who have won their last three games and six of their last seven, are fourth and in play-offs form.
An 18-0 interval lead was extended to 30-0 by the hour, with Luke Littlewood converting three of tries by Keidan Hartley, Alfie Crawford, Munashe Musvabori, Shane Plunkett, Dave Gibbons and Logan Roberts, before Kells’ Ryan Watson crossed 14 minutes from time and Ross Gainford added the extras.
Third-placed DEWSBURY MOOR are also in play-offs form and completed a double over LEIGH MINERS, who had been beaten 40-16 at Twist Lane, with a 39-8 win.
The Miners, two points shy of the top six, were 29-0 down before Noah Lancelott dotted down on 63 minutes, while Bradley Lewis claimed the contest’s last try, ten minutes later.
The Maroons otherwise held sway with a Jake Butterfield brace and tries by Taylor Russell, Joe Berry, Matthew Race, Aaron James and Gregory Colbridge. Louie Walker kicked five goals and Race a field-goal.
SHAW CROSS SHARKS’ bid to go level with visitors OULTON RAIDERS in the quest for a play-off spot was thwarted when the Raiders, who were level at the break at 16-16 and had been held to a 24-24 draw at home, registered the only points of the second period.
Adam Burlingham and Matty Stableford crossed and Archie Craggs landed the last two of his four goals to seal a 28-16 win in which Charlie Costello, Noah Crawshaw and Nathan Waring had crossed in the first half for the Raiders while Jack Toulson, Sam Busfield and Seb Jeffers had replied for the hosts, Evan Stephenson improving two efforts.
Sixth-placed EGREMONT RANGERS won 36-18 at bottom side OLDHAM ST ANNES, who had been edged 32-30 in Cumbria.
Rangers, who had led 18-0 by the half-hour, closed with tries by Connor Williams, Lachlan McDowell, Arron Turnbull, Jordan Baird, Cain Waterman and Tom Houghton, each of which Joe Lewis improved before Williams was yellow carded on 78 minutes for dissent.
Saints’ Matty Whitehead improved touchdowns by Jubril Olajide, Hayden Howarth and Dylan Turner.
Tries in the last eight minutes by Connor Aveyard, Elliot Whitaker and (breaking a 26-26 deadlock) and Logan Temple, plus Zack Clayton’s third goal, helped STANNINGLEY battle back from 26-16 adrift to win 30-26 at WIGAN ST PATRICKS, who remain third-bottom.
Pats, who had lost 48-0 in Leeds, had led through a try and three goals by Jack Sproat and touchdowns to Conor Taylor (two), Brad Wooton and Reece Rowcroft.
Stanningley, who have won their last three games and are only two points behind sixth-placed Egremont, had previously posted tries by Will Barker, Dylan Wepener and Whitaker before having Jack Vincent sinbinned on 67 minutes for pushing.
SCOREBOARD
Tuesday 1 September
REGIONS
YORKSHIRE MEN’S LEAGUE
DIVISION 3: Dewsbury Moor 16 Drighlington 40.
Wednesday 2 September
REGIONS
YORKSHIRE MEN’S LEAGUE
DIVISION 2: Eastmoor Dragons 24 Castleford Panthers 0.
DIVISION 3: Bramley Buffaloes 28 Queensbury 6.
Friday 4 September
NATIONAL LEAGUE
DIVISION ONE
Shaw Cross Sharks 16 Oulton Raiders 28
REGIONS
CUMBRIA MEN’S LEAGUE
PREMIER DIVISION: Wath Brow Hornets A 62 Cockermouth Titans 10.
DIVISION 1: Egremont Rangers A 52 Glasson Rangers 18.
Saturday 5 September
NATIONAL LEAGUE
PREMIER DIVISION
Heworth 10 Siddal 54
Rochdale Mayfield 20 Lock Lane 48
Thatto Heath Crusaders 16 Wath Brow Hornets 16
Waterhead Warriors 12 Hunslet ARLFC 28
Wigan St Judes 12 West Hull 34
York Acorn 16 West Bowling 20
DIVISION ONE
Dewsbury Moor Maroons 39 Leigh Miners Rangers 8
East Leeds 30 Kells 6
Oldham St Annes 18 Egremont Rangers 36
Pilkington Recs 12 Dewsbury Celtic 60
Wigan St Patricks 26 Stanningley 30
CONFERENCE REGIONS
CROSS-CONFERENCE PLAY-OFFS
GROUP A: Moldgreen 10 Orrell St James 32; Hensingham 20 Fryston Warriors 22.
GROUP B: Newsome Panthers 46 Dalton 20; Mirfield Spartans 20 Blackbrook 52.
GROUP C: Saddleworth Rangers 32 Keighley Albion 4; Skirlaugh 32 Distington 16.
GROUP D: Barrow Island 16 Featherstone Lions 38; Ince Rose Bridge 38 Thornhill Trojans 4.
SHIELD: Crosfields v Normanton Knights -nr; Ashton Bears 82 Hull Dockers 10; Maryport v Stanley Rangers -nr; Milford 40 Beverley 10; Bradford Dudley Hill 24 Seaton Rangers 24; Myton Warriors 34 Woolston Rovers 14; Drighlington v Millom -nr.
NATIONAL CONFERENCE SOUTH: Hammersmith Hill Hoists 46 London Chargers 6; Wests Warriors v Bedford Tigers -nr.
REGIONS
CUMBRIA MEN’S LEAGUE
PREMIER DIVISION: Kells A 48 Roose Pioneers 28; Flimby Vikings v Askam -nr.
DIVISION 1: Maryport A 24 Aspatria Hornets 28; Dalton A 24 Hensingham A 0.
NORTH WEST MEN’S LEAGUE
PREMIER DIVISION: Folly Lane 16 West Bank Bears 24; Halton Farnworth Hornets 38 Chorley Panthers 10; Heysham Atoms 6 Hindley Stags 82; Shevington Sharks 46 Waterhead Warriors A 10; Westhoughton Lions v Wigan St Judes -nr.
DIVISION 1: Garswood Stags 58 Runcorn Highfield 6; Newton Storm 6 Golborne Parkside 18; Salford City Roosters v Spring View -nr.
DIVISION 2: Clock Face Miners A v Hindley Stags Reserves -nr; Latchford Albion Giants 19 Thatto Heath Crusaders Academy 26; Portico Vine 44 Oldham St Annes A 22; Saddleworth Rangers A 24 Orrell St James A 0.
ENTRY DIVISION: Ince Rose Bridge A v Woolston Rovers A -nr.
MERIT DIVISION: Widnes St Maries 14 Culcheth Eagles 26.
YORKSHIRE MEN’S LEAGUE
PREMIER DIVISION: Newcastle Lightning 0 Brighouse Rangers 24; Dodworth Miners v Ossett Trinity Tigers -nr; Hunslet ARLFC v Doncaster Toll Bar -nr.
DIVISION 1: Seacroft Sharks 24 Emley Moor 20; Sharlston Rovers 6 Upton 42; Wibsey Warriors 44 Birstall Victoria 16; York Barbarians v Stainland Stags -nr.
DIVISION 2: Goole Vikings v Dearne Valley Bulldogs -nr; West Hull 50 Lindley St Joseph’s 12.
DIVISION 3: Bramley Buffaloes 50 Underbank Rangers 12; Dewsbury Celtic 24 Moortown Mambas 0; Drighlington 24 Birkenshaw Blue Dogs 0; Dewsbury Moor 10 Queensbury 48.
DIVISION 4: King Cross Park 24 Newsome Panthers 0; Keighley Albion 0 Batley 0; Ossett Trinity Tigers Academy 0 Stanningley 24; Sherburn Bears 56 Hemsworth Dragons 20.
DIVISION 5: Crigglestone All Blacks 56 Harrogate Hawks 12; Farnley Falcons 0 Shaw Cross Sharks 24; Methley Warriors 24 York Acorn 24; New Earswick All Blacks v Hull Wyke -nr.
DIVISION 6: Garforth Tigers v Rycroft Hammers -nr; Guiseley Rangers 0 Milford 24; Moldgreen Rams 0 Sheffield Hawks 24; Moorends Thorne Marauders 24 Knottingley Mustangs 0.
DIVISION 7: Boothtown Terriers 38 Featherstone Lions 22; Clayton v Woodhouse Warriors -nr.
ENTRY: Heworth 28 Odsal Sedbergh 24; Hull Knights v East Leeds -nr.
FRIENDLIES: Upton A 18 Doncaster Toll Bar A 0.
Fixtures
Thursday 10 September
REGIONS
NORTH WEST MEN’S LEAGUE
PREMIER DIVISION: Hindley Stags v Westhoughton Lions.
Friday 11 September
REGIONS
CUMBRIA MEN’S LEAGUE
DIVISION 1: Glasson Rangers v Hensingham A.
Saturday 12 September
NATIONAL LEAGUE
PREMIER DIVISION
Hunslet ARLFC v Heworth
Rochdale Mayfield v Thatto Heath Crusaders
Siddal v Waterhead Warriors
Wath Brow Hornets v Lock Lane
West Bowling v Wigan St Judes
West Hull v York Acorn
DIVISION ONE
Dewsbury Celtic v Wigan St Patricks
Kells v Shaw Cross Sharks
Leigh Miners Rangers v Egremont Rangers
Oulton Raiders v Oldham St Annes
Pilkington Recs v Dewsbury Moor Maroons
Stanningley v East Leeds
CONFERENCE REGIONS
CROSS-CONFERENCE PLAY-OFFS
GROUP A: Orrell St James v Fryston Warriors; Hensingham v Moldgreen.
GROUP B: Dalton v Blackbrook; Mirfield Spartans v Newsome Panthers.
GROUP C: Keighley Albion v Distington; Skirlaugh v Saddleworth Rangers.
GROUP D: Featherstone Lions v Thornhill Trojans; Ince Rose Bridge v Barrow Island.
SHIELD
GROUP A: Ellenborough Rangers v Crosfields.
GROUP B: King Cross Park v Ashton Bears.
GROUP C: Clock Face Miners v Maryport.
GROUP D: Leigh East v Milford.
GROUP E: Kippax Welfare v Bradford Dudley Hill.
GROUP F: Bentley v Myton Warriors.
GROUP G: Millom v Drighlington.
REGIONS
CUMBRIA MEN’S LEAGUE
PREMIER DIVISION: Lowca v Flimby Vikings; Cockermouth Titans v Kells A; Roose Pioneers v Wath Brow Hornets A.
NORTH WEST MEN’S LEAGUE
PREMIER DIVISION: West Bank Bears v Wigan St Judes; Waterhead Warriors A v Shevington Sharks.
DIVISION 1: Runcorn Highfield v Salford City Roosters; Garswood Stags v Wigan St Cuthberts.
DIVISION 2: Portico Vine v Orrell St James A; Hindley Stags Reserves v Saddleworth Rangers A; Latchford Albion Giants v Blackpool Scorpions; Clock Face Miners A v Thatto Heath Crusaders Academy.
YORKSHIRE MEN’S LEAGUE
DIVISION 4: Keighley Albion v King Cross Park; Newsome Panthers v Batley.
DIVISION 5: Harrogate Hawks v York Acorn.
DIVISION 6: Sheffield Hawks v Knottingley Mustangs.
DIVISION 7: Woodhouse Warriors v Boothtown Terriers; Woodhouse Warriors v Boothtown Terriers; Clayton v East Leeds.