SADDLEWORTH looked like retaining pole position when Joe Howe crossed on 73 minutes against KEIGHLEY ALBION, Josh Bradbury’s second conversion helping establish a 16-12 lead.
But never-say-die Albion, who had gone into the fixture behind Rangers in the standings solely through points difference, refused to roll over and restored parity when Adam Gaunt popped over two minutes from time.
And Ben Stead, in a repeat of his feat in the win at Leigh East late last month, again showed nerves of steel by landing the conversion, from a midway point between the posts and the touchline, in a dramatic 18-16 victory.
Stead had already scored a try and two goals, while Josh Tenniswood had opened Albion’s account. Freddie Wilson and Joe Taira, meanwhile, had crossed for Rangers.
Saddleworth have slipped to third while Albion, despite their achievement, have been denied pole position by BENTLEY, who are top of the table on points difference courtesy of a 32-20 triumph at LEIGH EAST.
The Doncaster outfit never looked back after going 14-0 up by the half-hour through tries by Scott Smith and Johnny Marshall, with Kieran Lewis adding both conversions and a penalty-goal.
And that was enough, despite East ‘winning’ the rest of the game with tries by Cai O’Brien, Ryan Barnes (twice) and Marcus Mercer, with James Molyneux and Adam Holland each adding a goal.
Holland was, crucially, yellow carded on 43 minutes for a high tackle. Bentley, in his absence, notched tries by Jordan Seaman and Josh Richards, with Lewis adding the conversions before improving Ben Sykes’ subsequent effort to help forge a 32-14 lead.
MILLOM are four points clear of the re-election zone after ending FEATHERSTONE LIONS’ three-match winning streak with a 30-6 victory.
The Lions were 24-0 behind before Ash Smith raced over on 48 minutes, Liam Kay converting. The Woolybacks, however, had the last word, Kian McPherson grabbing his second try a minute from time and Lee Postlethwaite kicking his fifth goal. Other home touchdowns went to Rio Walker, Jude Lupton and Ollie Dicks.
MYTON, meanwhile, are six points above the danger area after holding out for a 22-16 win at MILFORD after having been 22-6 ahead as the game went into the final quarter.
The Leeds side rallied with tries by Callum Platts and Hamish McClintock, the latter adding his second goal after having improved his own opener.
The Warriors, meanwhile, had responded with tries by Jack Sanderson, Rikkie Robinson, Nathan Slater, Alfie Wall and Tyler Fisher, with Wall improving one score.
Winless BEVERLEY are still propping up the table, despite having led 10-8 at the break at DISTINGTON.
The Cumbrians, who had opened through Jack Penrice and Jayden Hewer, eased to a 30-10 lead through touchdowns by Ryan Hodgson, Scott Rooke and, twice, Steve Clark, while Scott George kicked three goals.
And although the Yorkshire side finished strongly with tries by Ben Rowan and Lewis Miller, Rowan adding both conversions to peg the Cumbrians back to 30-22, a seventh successive defeat was by that stage inevitable. Tom Burnett and Miller had crossed in the first half, Ben White adding a goal.
