Riding high in the NCL!

Local sides are very much in the promotion and title frames in all four divisions of the National Conference League.

Unbeaten EAST LEEDS head Division Three, thanks to a 32-6 win over second-placed Waterhead Warriors, who were unable to prevent two tries each by Luke Littlewood and Owen Hughes, with the prolific Shane Plunkett also touching down and Nathan Conroy kicking six goals. And, in the same section, DRIGHLINGTON are in the play-off equation, despite a 30-20 reverse at Batley Boys which owed much to a late home try. Sam Thornton crossed twice for Drig, Kieran Roche chipped in with a try and two goals, and Lucas Hallas dotted down.

OULTON RAIDERS and STANNINGLEY occupy the top two berths in Division One. The Raiders remain in pole position despite being held to a 16-16 draw by visitors Ince Rose Bridge, who were four points clear until Oulton squared the issue with a try on 76 minutes by Liam Wiggins. Harvey Stevens and Dave Jagger also popped over for the home side and Archie Craggs landed a couple of conversions.

Stanningley are on the Raiders’ coat-tails courtesy of a 46-10 stroll over Saddleworth Rangers in which Mekhie Bridgeman-Reaney crossed twice and Adam Butterill, Jack Flanagan, Daniel Barcoe, Ben Selby, Nathan Simpson and Will Barker swept in. Tom Flannery (5) and Selby (2) kicked the goals.

There was less joy for HUNSLET CLUB PARKSIDE in the big Premier Division clash at Siddal. Parkside opened the scoring through Craig McShane and closed strongly with two touchdowns by Jack McShane, both of which Danny Rowse improved, but between-times the Halifax outfit posted four tries and three goals to prevail 22-16.

HUNSLET WARRIORS, meanwhile, lost 36-20 at Division Two leaders Crosfields but it could all have been so very different had Ben Gale not been sent off at the midway point for an alleged head-but.

The Warriors, who were 20-6 in front at that stage through a Tyler Dargan brace and tries by Liam Gaunt and Lee West, plus two Jordan Gale goals, inevitably struggled to contain the rampant hosts.

National Conference League

Results

Saturday 26 March 2022

Premier Division: Egremont Rangers 26, York Acorn 24; Siddal 22, HUNSLET LUB PARKSIDE 16; Thatto Heath Crusaders 20, Lock Lane 40; Thornhill Trojans 18, Pilkington Recs 22; Wath Brow Hornets 48, Rochdale Mayfield 0; West Hull 30, Leigh Miners Rangers 12.

Division One: Featherstone Lions 8, Hull Dockers 38; Myton Warriors 18, Milford 10; OULTON RAIDERS 16, Ince Rose Bridge 16; STANNINGLEY 46, Saddleworth Rangers 10; West Bowling 32, Skirlaugh 22; Wigan St Patricks 34, Kells 6.

Division Two: Barrow Island 26, Heworth 24; Clock Face Miners 38, Dewsbury Moor Maroons 24; Crosfields 36, HUNSLET WARRIORS 20; Normanton Knights 24, Bradford Dudley Hill 26; Wigan St Judes 18, Dewsbury Celtic 16; Woolston Rovers 42, Beverley 16.

Division Three: Batley Boys 30, DRIGHLINGTON 20; Bentley 24, Oldham St Annes 32; EAST LEEDS 32, Waterhead Warriors 6; Eastmoor Dragons 16, Shaw Cross Sharks 24; Seaton Rangers 38, Leigh East 12.

Fixtures

Saturday 2 April 2022

Premier Division: Egremont Rangers v West Hull; Leigh Miners Rangers v Lock Lane; Pilkington Recs v Thatto Heath Crusaders; Rochdale Mayfield v Hunslet Club Parkside; Siddal v Wath Brow Hornets; York Acorn v Thornhill Trojans.

Division One: Featherstone Lions v Stanningley; Hull Dockers v West Bowling; Ince Rose Bridge v Saddleworth Rangers; Kells v Oulton Raiders; Milford v Wigan St Patricks; Skirlaugh v Myton Warriors.

Division Two: Barrow Island v Normanton Knights; Beverley v Dewsbury Celtic; Bradford Dudley Hill v Clock Face Miners; Dewsbury Moor Maroons v Woolston Rovers; Heworth v Crosfields; Hunslet Warriors v Wigan St Judes.

Division Three: Batley Boys v Hensingham; Bentley v Eastmoor Dragons; Drighlington v Millom; Leigh East v East Leeds; Oldham St Annes v Seaton Rangers; Shaw Cross Sharks v Waterhead Warriors.