DRIGHLINGTON are still seeking a first win of the season in the National Conference League’s LEAGUE F – but a victory won’t be long in coming, judging by Thursday’s performance at title hopefuls Thornhill Trojans.
The Trojans were 18-16 adrift with a minute to go but turned the tables on the visitors with late tries by Luke Haigh and John Gearey, George Woodcock’s third goal sealing a 26-18 result.
Drig had led through tries by Joe Sheldon – despite Ethan Hallas being in the sin-bin – Braden Hunter and John Gallagher, each of which Michael Sanderson converted. The Trojans, meanwhile, had opened with a Jordan Lowther brace and a George Stott effort.
It was close, too, in the following day’s LEAGUE D fixture between EAST LEEDS and STANNINGLEY.
The visitors were 30-18 in front with only a couple of minutes left, thanks to a brace apiece for Tom Flannery and Daniel Barcoe, a Louis Godfrey touchdown, and five Eddie Crossland goals.
But Easts, who had already recovered from 12-0 down to level matters shortly after half-time, forced their way into late contention with tries by Luke Littlewood and Connall Barningham. Neither, however, was converted – leaving Stanningley as nervy winners.
Barnigham, Littlewood and Ryan Wooffitt had opened Easts’ account, Littlewood booting three goals. The home side wasn’t helped, though, by the sin-binning of James Duckworth for a dangerous tackle.
It was more clear-cut at OULTON RAIDERS, where HUNSLET CLUB PARKSIDE won 50-0. Ritchie Westwood and Omar Alwari both crossed twice, Liam Thompson, Craig McShane, Ben Shulver, Jamie Fields and Andy Hullock dotted down, and Fields (4) and Hullock (3) added conversions. Matty Stableford impressed for Oulton.
The fixture between Milford and Hunslet Warriors was postponed.
National Conference League
League D: East Leeds 26, Stanningley 30 (played Friday); Milford v Hunslet Warriors –pp; Oulton Raiders 0 Hunslet Club Parkside 50 (played Saturday).
League F: Thornhill Trojans 26, Drighlington 18 (played Friday).
Fixtures
Saturday 31 July 2021
League D: Hunslet Club Parkside v Stanningley; Hunslet Warriors v Oulton Raiders; Siddal v East Leeds.
League F: Drighlington v Underbank Rangers.
