Wath Brow Hornets appear to be hitting top form at the right time ahead of the National Conference Premier Division play-offs.
It’s been a pretty low-key season by their high standards but the last two weeks have seen their best performances of the campaign.
After beating reigning champions Thatto Heath Crusaders they followed-up by beating newly crowned League Leaders Trophy winners West Hull 24-12 to move fourth in the table.
In a tough, even opening the first try didn’t come until the 27th minute when Jay Weatherill went over for the Hornets and Sam Curwen added the extras.
The lead was short-lived for five minutes later West Hull were level, but almost right on half-time Curwen regained the lead for the hosts with a try which he converted himself.
A 12-6 half-time lead was replicated in the second-half with Weatherill grabbing a second try and Ellison Holgate also crossing, as Curwen supplied two more conversions. West Hull’s second converted try had pulled it back to 18-12.
Prop Callum Farrer earned Wath Brow’s official man of the match award in what was essentially a good all-round team effort.
Egremont will be playing Division One rugby next season but they did record a morale-boosting victory at home to Rochdale Mayfield who are still not certain of avoiding the drop themselves.
Mayfield had been held up on the motorway, which meant a late kick-off, and the Rochdale side were caught cold as Egremont scored tries in the first nine minutes from Matt Hutchins and Mitch Edwards, both converted by Billy Thompson.
By half-time Egremont had stretched that lead to 24-10 with tries from Matty Bewsher and Kris Tyson, again improved by Thompson.
Tom Horner went in for an unconverted try but with seven minutes left the visitors had fought their way back into the contest at 30-26.
It took a late try by Fraser McNee, converted by Thompson to finally take the game beyond the Rochdale side.
Kells’ title hopes in Division One were dented by a 34-12 defeat at West Bowling as the Bradford side scored 28 unanswered second-half points.
Tries by David Lowery and Clarke Chambers appeared to have given Kells the edge but it all went pear-shaped in the second-half. Ross Gainford had put over two conversions.
With two games left to play Kells trail Hull Dockers by two points, although they still do have a superior points differential.
Barrow Island will have to try and gain promotion from Division Two through the play-offs after being knocked down to third after a 58-12 defeat at champions Heworth.
The Islanders actually scored first with a try from Will Hadwin, converted by Adam Jackson and only trailed 16-6 at the break.
But Heworth pulled away in the second half and the Cumbrians were looking at a 28-point deficit before they scored a second try through Jackson which he converted.
Heworth finished with ten tries, nine of which were converted as they raced to the title in style.
In Division Three the play-off candidates are almost known but the finishing order to determine who meets who still has to be determined.
Seaton Rangers lost to one of their potential play-off opponents when they went down 22-14 at Bentley – a meeting of the two newcomers to the NCL this season.
Seaton had led 14-12 at half-time with tries from Aaron Postlethwaite, Gary Taylor and Liam Wood, with Dominic Smallwood converting one.
But injuries played their part in the second-half as Seaton suffered three head knocks which greatly reduced their options and Bentley came back to win.
Bentley could still be pipped for the final play-off spot by Leigh East who helped their cause with an 18-4 win at Hensingham who stay next-to-bottom.
Hensingham’s only try came five minutes from the end from Scott Egan when the visitors were 18-0 clear.
Millom returned to winning ways with a hard-fought 30-26 home win over Drighlington after they had led 16-10 at the break.
The Millom tries were scored by Kyle Evans (2), Tom Hillard, Rob Pattinson, Kian McPherson and Jude Lupton. Jack Newbegin kicked three goals.
