Raiders and Easts setting the pace

OULTON RAIDERS and EAST LEEDS remain at the head of, respectively, the National Conference League’s First and Third Divisions after notching second successive victories in the first two weeks of the 2022 season.

The Raiders beat Featherstone Lions 22-6, courtesy of tries by Hal Day, Kieran Walpole, Adrian Holdsworth and Harvey Stevens, plus three Archie Craggs goals while, also in Division One, STANNINGLEY repelled a recovery by Myton Warriors from 18-0 down to only 24-16 adrift to prevail 32-16, despite having ahead Jamaine Ruan sent off midway through the second half for an alleged head-butt. Tom Flannery scored a try and four goals in the victory, with Ben Selby, Nathan Darby, Adam Butterill, Jack Sykes and Carl McGuigan also dotting down.

EAST LEEDS are riding high after following up the 48-0 win over Drighlington with a 66-4 success at Eastmoor Dragons in which Sam Storey and Shane Plunkett had hat-tricks. Nathan Conroy contributed two tries and nine goals and there was also a brace for Luke Littlewood brace, with Luke Mullen and Ben Walkin also crossing. And DRIGHLINGTON enjoyed better fortune against Leigh East, snaffling a 26-22 victory with a late Ethan Hallas try and Kieron Roche’s third goal after the visitors had recovered from 20-4 down at the break.

Drig, who only trailed for a five-minute spell, had previously posted tries by Cain Crotty, Steve McIntyre, Joe Sheldon and Lucas Hallas.

Injury-hit HUNSLET CLUB PARKSIDE, though, lost 18-0 at home to reigning champions Thatto Heath Crusaders in the big Premier Division clash, despite a typically whole-hearted effort by Craig McShane. And HUNSLET WARRIORS lost 30-22 at Barrow Island in Division Two, despite rallying from 24-4 down at the interval with a try and two goals for Liam Gaunt and touchdowns to Lee West and Tyler Dargan; Josh McClelland had nosed the Warriors in front with a fifth-minute try.

Picture Hunslet Old Boys vs Thatto Heath – Paul Butterfield

Results

Saturday 12 March 2022

PREMIER DIVISION: HUNSLET CLUB PARKSIDE 0, Thatto Heath Crusaders 18; Pilkington Recs 22, Egremont Rangers 24; Siddal 36, Leigh Miners Rangers 6; Wath Brow Hornets 26, Thornhill Trojans 0; West Hull 38, Rochdale Mayfield 18; York Acorn 14, Lock Lane 44.

DIVISION ONE: Hull Dockers 28, Wigan St Patricks 26; Ince Rose Bridge 30, Milford 28; Kells 28, West Bowling 14; OULTON RAIDERS 22, Featherstone Lions 6; Saddleworth Rangers 18, Skirlaugh 20; STANNINGLEY 32, Myton Warriors 16.

DIVISION TWO: Barrow Island 30, HUNSLET WARRIORS 22; Beverley 21, Normanton Knights 22; Bradford Dudley Hill 6, Heworth 42; Clock Face Miners 46, Dewsbury Celtic 0; Dewsbury Moor Maroons 16, Crosfields 26; Woolston Rovers 40, Wigan St Judes 0.

DIVISION THREE: DRIGHLINGTON 26, Leigh East 22; Eastmoor Dragons 4, EAST LEEDS 66; Hensingham 14, Seaton Rangers 16; Millom 8, Waterhead Warriors 46; Oldham St Annes 48, Batley Boys 6; Shaw Cross Sharks 18, Bentley 4.

Fixtures

Saturday 19 March 2022

PREMIER DIVISION: Leigh Miners Rangers v HUNSLET CLUB PARKSIDE; Rochdale Mayfield v Egremont Rangers; Siddal v Pilkington Recs; Thatto Heath Crusaders v Wath Brow Hornets; Thornhill Trojans v Lock Lane; York Acorn v West Hull.

DIVISION ONE: Ince Rose Bridge v Hull Dockers; Milford v STANNINGLEY; Myton Warriors v Kells; Saddleworth Rangers v OULTON RAIDERS; Skirlaugh v Featherstone Lions; Wigan St Patricks v West Bowling.

DIVISION TWO: Bradford Dudley Hill v Barrow Island; Crosfields v Clock Face Miners; Dewsbury Moor Maroons v Beverley; Heworth v Wigan St Judes; HUNSLET WARRIORS v Normanton Knights; Woolston Rovers v Dewsbury Celtic.

DIVISION THREE: Eastmoor Dragons v DRIGHLINGTON; EAST LEEDS v Seaton Rangers; Leigh East v Bentley; Millom v Oldham St Annes; Shaw Cross Sharks v Batley Boys; Waterhead Warriors v Hensingham.