Wath Brow Hornets held off a determined challenge from struggling Leigh Miners Rangers to continue their pursuit of the NCL Premier Division’s top two.
There had only been four points between them entering the last seven minutes but then the Hornets pulled away to record a 34-14 victory.
Hornets had led 8-0 early on, were headed 10-8 by the 24th minute but by half-time were 18-10 to the good.
Then came a dogged effort by the Rangers to pull it back to 18-14 before late tries from Greg Howland, Jay Weatherill and Sam Curwen wrapped-up the points with Cole Walker-Taylor converting two of them.
Tries in the first half had come from Weatherill, Howland, Fran King and Walker-Taylor with Curwen landing one conversion.
The Brow stay third, a point behind the leading pair of Hunslet Amateurs and Rochdale Mayfield who both scored 50 points in convincing victories.
Kells were beaten 36-4 at York Acorn – six tries to one – after a decent enough start had seen the game nicely poised at 6-4 with 25 minutes gone.
Clarke Chambers scored the Kells try but by half-time the Acorn had pulled away to lead 24-4 and the Cumbrians never really got back into it in the second-half when the hosts scored two more converted tries without reply.
Featherstone Lions have pulled-out of the National Conference First Division – and in the subsequent readjustment of points Egremont Rangers have moved into joint second place.,
The Lions had been successful in just one game and Egremont had won there 48-26 earlier in the season, but the departing club’s record has now been expunged.
Rangers, bidding to return to the top flight at the first time of asking, were convincing 52-8 winners at home to Pilkington Recs, one of the sides who were relegated with them last season.
They scored four first-half tries through Fraser McNee (2), John Paul Brocklebank and Quinn Wright to lead 20-4 as two were converted by Kris Tyson.
Six more tries followed in the second-half, four of them converted by Tyson. The touchdowns came from Mitch Edwards, Leon Crellin, James Messenger, Brad Lond, Sam Appleby and Tyson.
Barrow Island were up against it at second in Division Two side Dewsbury Moor Maroons as they travelled from south Cumbria with just one substitute.
On a hot day with few options available from the bench they were found out in the second-half and after a respectable 12-4 half-time deficit went down 44-8.
Ryan Wilson scored the Islanders first try while Ross Bird got in for the second touchdown.
The big game in Division Three was the Cumbrian derby which, in the end, produced a convincing 46-26 victory for Ellenborough Rangers over visitors Millom. But after a cracking first half they had only led 24-22 and it was down to a powerful second half performance, particularly from the forwards, which carried them to victory.
Indeed midway through the first half Millom were in the ascendancy, leading 18-6 and despite having Andy Ostle sin-binned for a late tackle, the fought back to hold a slight advantage at the break.
Another sin-binning, however, had a different effect for Millom nine minutes from time. Elbra had a narrow 30-26 lead when ex-Barrow pro Brad Crellin was sin-binned for tripping and the home side romped away with three tries, two of which were converted.
Ellenborough’s tries came from Jordan Ostle (3), Rocco Okesene, Jason Graham, Matty Bell, Danny Penman and Gary Tierney. Owen Hoyles landed seven goals.
Millom’s response came from tries by Rio McQuistan (2), Niall Harris, Kyle Evans and Jack Newbegin. Lee Postlethwaite kicked three goals.
