Wath Brow Hornets battled to a hard fought 6-4 win over Lock Lane in a tight National Conference League NCL Premiership game played in light rain on a slippery pitch at Giel Park, writes Ben Challis.
There were some big tackles and in the opening minutes a lot of mistake but both sides defended well in a really close, grinding game.
On the half hour, Lock Lane took the lead with an unconverted try, but then missed an attempted penalty goal for 0-4 lead at half time.
On the hour Wath Brow Hornets were down to 12 men with captain Fran King sin binned, but the Hornets held on in what had became a brutal war of attrition.
Late into the second half with King held up on the line, the Hornets’ pressure paid off when Dean Rooney put through a beautifully weighted grubber kick and Karl Dixon’s reactions were the quickest and he dived in and touched down to a huge cheer, with Sam Curwen converting for the win.
With Premier Division league leaders West Hull losing to second placed Siddal 32-16, and third paced West Bowling defeating York Acorn 0-41 away, the Brow stay fourth, and it’s tight at the top now.
In Division One, Kells pulled off an impressive 18- 8 triumph over Stanningly.
Clarke Chambers opened the scoring for Kells before Stanningley went ahead with a converted try and a penalty goal to end the first half up 6-8.
Ryan Starkie went over for Kells’ second try before Man of the Match Clarke secured the win with Kells’ third and final try.
Ross Gainford added one conversion and Grant Gainford kicked two goals.
Egremont Rangers were well beaten by a big and fast Heworth pack who went home with a 6-42 victory.
The visitors only had a one try lead at half time, but ran riot in the second half for an emphatic win.
Brad Long scored the Rangers’ only try, with Kristian Tyson adding the conversion.
Kells are up to sixth place in the table, leapfrogging Egremont who are in seventh place, with both teams on 12 points.
In Division Two, Barrow Island lost out 16-22 to Clock Face Miners, with one of the Miners’ coaching staff getting to see to see two of his grandchildren playing on the winning side!
Hensingham’s recent run of good form came to an abrupt end at Dewsbury Celtic with Kris Coward’s depleted side going down to a 0-32 defeat.
Coward was missing a number of key players, not least Kier Starkie who was in Ireland picking up the Man of the Match award as the England Community Lions U18s defeated their Irish counterparts 32-6, Despite the loss, Hensingham could not have asked for more commitment and effort from a very youthful team, with Preston Meloy and Lincoln Sice making their their National Conference League debuts.
And bottom side Ellenborough lost out 46-24 away to Thornhill Trojans with Elbra’s tries from a Owen Hoyles brace, Matty Bell and Luke Broster, with Brett Stevenson adding three goals and Owen Hoyles a fourth, Hensingham are now fifth in the table and Barrow Island in seventh place, with Ellenborough in 12th.
In Division Three, Distington overturned a 16-4 half time deficit at Beverley to run out 16-18 winners, with an outstanding second half effort to secure the two points.
The Distington tries from Callum Fox and Jack Penrice with a brace, Scott George with one conversion and one penalty goal.
Finally Millom lost out away at Milford, losing out 42-18, the Millom tries from Lee Postlethwaite, Stephen Watson and Dan Hartley with Postlethwaite adding three goals. Distington are seventh and Millom eighth in the table, just two points above Milford.
