THERE appeared to be little respect for higher-league status in several of Saturday’s warm-up games.
Many teams will be heading into serious action next month, notably KEIGHLEY ALBION, who have returned to the National Conference League after an absence of around a quarter of a century.
Albion, who will operate in Division Three, hosted THORNHILL TROJANS, of Division Two, and posted a morale-boosting 34-18 victory.
The Trojans opened with a Rye Ward try which Sam Ratcliffe improved but Albion were 28-6 ahead by the hour, by which stage Adam Gaunt (twice), Ben Ellis, Joseph Sugden and Connor Meegan had crossed.
Jason Kay bagged a late brace for the visitors, Ratcliffe adding both conversions, but in between, Jack Adams dotted down for Albion, Jacob Cox landing his fifth goal.
BARROW ISLAND, of the NCL Second Division, were beaten 24-14 at home by North West Men’s League outfit DALTON, who were 10-6 behind at the interval but prevailed through a Will Broome brace, a try and four goals to Ross Bird and a Ben Atkinson touchdown.
Adam Ford crossed twice for the Island, for whom Finn Dutton-Rosconie kicked a conversion, and Cory Barker nipped over.
MILFORD accounted for Leeds rivals OULTON RAIDERS in a result that belied the two clubs’ standings.
The Raiders, of the NCL Division One, were 16-0 behind at the break to their Division Three hosts before Archie Craggs converted Isaac Rotherham’s try on the resumption.
That, however, was the only moment the visitors had to celebrate, Milford going on to win 29-6 through unanswered touchdowns by Rhys Greenhall and Dwaine McRae, both of which Josh Cawood improved.
Victory was wrapped up by a Tayler Stevenson field-goal while the north Leeds outfit had led at half-time through a try and two goals by Dave Watmough, plus touchdowns for Callum Platts and Kiernan Tierney.
Last year’s NCL Division Three champions EAST LEEDS cruised to a 28-10 verdict over neighbours STANNINGLEY, of Division One.
Easts, who were 12-0 ahead at half-time, closed with tries by Jake Normington, Callum Windley, Shane Plunkett, Elliot Windley and Alfie Crawford, four of which Luke Littlewood improved. Alex Ryan and Adam Butterill replied for the west Leeds side, the latter converting his own score.
MYTON WARRIORS, of the NCL Third Division, won 20-14 at neighbours SKIRLAUGH, of Division Two, in a meeting of teams relegated last season.
Both sides had a Kieran Smith in their ranks, Skirlaugh’s version landing a goal and Myton’s scoring a try and a conversion.
The key figure, however, was Jack Sanderson, who posted a hat-trick for the Warriors, his last two tries – in the closing four minutes – overturning a 14-10 deficit, with David Brooke’s conversion wrapping matters up.
Skirlaugh had led through touchdowns for Tom Gray, Jon Gay and Lochlan Fitzgerald.
CLOCK FACE MINERS, of the NCL Division Two, were 16-0 up at half-time at Division One WOOLSTON ROVERS, thanks to tries by Josh Morgan, Ben Daniels and Jordy Eccleston, plus a couple of Lewis Geraghty goals.
James Torpey opened Rovers’ account six minutes after the restart, Ben Dixon adding the extras, before Ryan Palin (Woolston) and Karle Hunt (Clock) were yellow carded following a skirmish.
The hosts’ Tom Hailey nipped over while the sides were down to twelve men each, Craig Lawton goaling, and despite having Harry Files sinbinned for dissent, and losing Rhys Brindley (concussion), Woolston forced a 16-16 draw with Matthew Nash’s last-gasp try.
MILLOM, who were relegated to the NCL’s bottom tier last autumn, notched an 18-18 draw with EGREMONT, who were demoted from the top flight.
Rangers had recovered from 12-6 down shortly before the break with James Messenger’s second try (Kris Tyson had converted the first) plus touchdowns for Jake Conway and Quinn Wright.
But the Woolybacks restored parity in the last minute with Hadley Thomson’s try and Jackson Evans’ goal.
Millom’s Jonty Peters had improved touchdowns by Connor Terrill and Kyle Evans shortly before half-time.
NORMANTON, who are in the NCL Second Division, pushed top-flight outfit LOCK LANE hard in a 30-22 reverse.
Sam Butler and Elliot Davey gave the Knights a 10-0 lead before Harvey Kear replied for the Lane and Nathan Fozzard fired the goal.
Adam Biscomb crashed in for Normanton, Charlie Barker’s second conversion securing a 16-6 interval lead, but the Castleford side upped the tempo on the restart, with Fozzard scoring two tries and four more goals. Danny Sowerby and Tom Sowerby added touchdowns and Biscomb’s second try, again improved by Barker, was nothing more than a consolation effort.
Two promoted NCL outfits DEWSBURY MOOR and DRIGHLINGTON, who have been elevated to, respectively, the top flight and Division Two, went head-to-head and the Moor eased to a 16-0 lead on 15 minutes before being held to a 22-10 victory.
William Clarkson bagged a brace in the blistering start, Theo Maun nipped over and Harry Hartley added two goals.
Ben Warren replied for the hosts shortly before the break but Henry Brown crossed for the Maroons as the game entered the final quarter, Maun’s goal forging an 18-point buffer.
And that was enough to seal victory, despite Alfie Ward’s subsequent try for Drighlington and Braden Hunter’s conversion.
HENSINGHAM, who have been promoted to Division Two, were beaten 20-6 by KELLS (relegated from the Premier Division) in the Lewis Holgate Memorial Trophy match.
The Miners led 20-0, through tries by Keelen Parr, Blaine Graham, Harry Watson and Lewis Smith – with Ross Gainford and Grant Gainford landing a goal apiece – before Jaylen Conway notched the touchdown the Hens’ efforts deserved, Adam Williamson improving.
Elsewhere, DEWSBURY CELTIC, of the NCL Second Division, were beaten 30-12 by SHAW CROSS, who were promoted from the section last time.
The Sharks were 24-0 ahead at the interval, thanks to a Callum Barker brace, a try and four goals by Evan Stephenson and a touchdown to Brad Wakenshaw.
Celtic had marginally the better of the second period, Jordan Hirst converting two tries by Tom Bottomley, but Shaw Cross stayed out of sight with Lewi Bayliss’s score, Stephenson again goaling.
LEIGH EAST, of the NCL bottom tier, beat North West Men’s side HINDLEY 34-4, posting tries by Louis Else (two), Jasper Cockle, Cam Taylor-Clark, Connor Grainey, Oscar Hansen and Cobyn Fletcher, three of which Craig Mullen improved. Connor Padden replied for the visitors.
ELLENBOROUGH RANGERS were 52-0 down before Kai Gilhespy crossed in the game against NCL Premiers WATH BROW HORNETS.
The Brow went on to register a 62-4 win in which Fran King grabbed two tries and Dean Rooney posted a try and three goals. Clark Riley, Jack Meagan, Devlin Sharp, Morgan McCourt, Matty Creasey, Evan Alick, Peter Caddy, Luke Spivey and Keiron Eldon also crossed the whitewash and Greg Rooney landed four goals.
Results
Saturday 22 February
FRIENDLIES: Barrow Island 14 Dalton 24; Dewsbury Celtic 12 Shaw Cross Sharks 30; Drighlington 10 Dewsbury Moor Maroons 22; East Leeds 28 Stanningley 10; Hensingham 6 Kells 20 (Lewis Holgate Memorial Match); Keighley Albion 34 Thornhill Trojans 18; Leigh East 34 Hindley 4; Milford 29 Oulton Raiders 6; Millom 18 Egremont Rangers 18; Normanton Knights 22 Lock Lane 30; Skirlaugh 14 Myton Warriors 20; Wath Brow Hornets 62 Ellenborough Rangers 4; Woolston Rovers 16 Clock Face Miners 16.
Fixtures
Saturday 1 March
FRIENDLIES: Myton Warriors v Hull Dockers; Thornhill Trojans v Shaw Cross Sharks; Lock Lane v Castleford Panthers; Kells v Ellenborough Rangers; Myton Warriors v Hull Dockers; Bentley v Stanley Rangers; Egremont Rangers v Hensingham; Dewsbury Celtic v Milford; Distington v Lowca; Clock Face Miners v Ashton Bears; Dewsbury Celtic v Milford; Distington v Lowca; Clock Face Miners v Ashton Bears.