LEADERS EAST LEEDS’ 100 per cent winning record was very much on the line when, with time running out, hosts DEWSBURY CELTIC were on level terms at 12-12 and seeking to extend a seven-match winning record.
But a spilled ball close to the home line gave Nehemiah Mensah the chance to grab an opportunist try on 72 minutes that, with Luke Littlewood’s conversion, secured an 18-12 win and the double after the 28-12 success in Leeds.
Celtic had led 12-0 as the hour-mark approached, Jordan Hirst having converted Casey Canterbury’s two tries. Easts, who now have one hand on the championship trophy, rallied with tries by Ryan Woofitt and George Clarke, plus two Billy Evans goals.
ELLENBOROUGH RANGERS are relegated. The section’s bottom side, however, were level at 12-12 at promotion-chasing CLOCK FACE MINERS with 15 minutes left, but the St Helens side completed the double, after the 20-6 win in Cumbria, with tries by Liam Smethurst and Brandon Lewis, Nathan Benson’s third goal cementing a 22-12 result and a first win in four games.
Ben Daniels had crossed twice for the Miners, who had trailed 10-0 at the break, Elbra having made the most of the sinbinning of Lewis Geraghty for use of the elbow by posting tries by Niall Gray and Louis Fearon, Brett Stevenson having improved one effort before kicking a levelling penalty on 53 minutes.
SKIRLAUGH, who have been battling against relegation all season, boosted their hopes of survival in the section with an ultimately comfortable 36-18 victory at home to BARROW ISLAND.
But plenty of plaudits went the way of the Island, who travelled to Hull with only 13 players and pushed their hosts hard after an uncertain start.
Barrow, who had won their home game 32-0, were 12-0 adrift after as many minutes, Skirlaugh’s Ross Kemp having converted a couple of tries by fullback Tom Gray, the hosts’ best player.
Irrepressible Island hooker Finley Dutton-Rosconie, though, illustrated the spirit in the side by crossing on 20 minutes and improving his own effort before goaling Carl McBain’s touchdown as the interval beckoned.
Between those scores, though, Josh Atkinson dotted down for the hosts, Kemp’s conversion (his third in a six-from-six contribution with the boot) ensuring an 18-12 interval lead.
Nathan Dunn stretched the lead with a touchdown five minutes after the restart and, as the game entered the final quarter, Marcus Hall shot in.
Dutton-Rosconie again hit back for the Island, goaling his own touchdown, but the visitors, who were unable to travel to Dewsbury Celtic late last month because of illness in the camp, were unable to prevent Kemp from scoring a late try for Skirlaugh, who may now consider themselves effectively safe from the drop. The Island, meanwhile, face a huge task to force their way into the top-six play-offs.
HULL DOCKERS are eight points behind fourth-from-bottom Skirlaugh, with only four fixtures left, following a 34-18 home defeat at the hands of top-six aspirants DRIGHLINGTON.
Joe Sheldon scored four tries for Drig, his first two (both goaled by Mick Sanderson) helping establish a 12-6 lead.
The Dockers, though, led 18-12 at half-time, thanks to Dave Bade’s second try, a Kallum Birch touchdown and Olly Agar’s three goals.
Drighlington, however, went on to complete the double, following the 26-22 home verdict, with Alfie Ward and Luke Broadbent complementing Sheldon’s last two scores; Max Liddemore improved three efforts.
THORNHILL TROJANS’ hopes of avoiding relegation took a dive with a 44-20 defeat at HENSINGHAM, who had prevailed 28-22 in Dewsbury.
The Trojans, who travelled with only 14 men, trailed 16-0 after as many minutes but recovered to 26-16 adrift early in the second period through tries by Zak Haigh, Harvey Roberts and Jonny Campbell, two of which Ryan Mitchell improved.
The Hens, though, eased clear with second tries for Ben Pearce, Adam Williamson and Miller Dalton, while Williamson totalled six goals.
Thornhill had the last word with a consolation try for Oli Boocock, while the Cumbrians’ other try-scorers were Luke Charlton and Mike Maudling.
NORMANTON boosted their play-off ambitions by completing the double over promotion hopefuls PILKINGTON RECS.
The Knights, who had won 28-20 in St Helens, looked destined for defeat when Jacob Crossland was sinbinned on 69 minutes for a high tackle.
But the hosts somehow blasted back from 18-10 down (Kyran Knapper having kicked his fifth goal with the consequent penalty) with a Stuart Biscomb try, Charlie Barker’s conversion and, in the closing seconds, a Ben Jordan touchdown to post a stunning 20-18 victory.
Tim Robinson and Barker had crossed earlier for the Knights, with Reece Potter adding a conversion, while Ben O’Donnell and Jonathan Key had nipped over for Pilks, who had led 8-0 at the break.