Caldy edge top two contest

National Two North leaders Caldy increased their lead at the top of the table after securing a bonus-point win over Sale FC.

Their victory not only stretches their unbeaten run to 13 matches, but it also means Simon Verbickas’ side are nine points clear at the summit.

Sedgley Park are now breathing down Sale’s necks as they eased to victory over Scunthorpe to consolidate third place in the table.

Down at the bottom, Wharfedale moved out of the relegation zone thanks to a victory over Chester while Harrogate’s revival continued with a win over Preston Grasshoppers.

Elsewhere, there were victories for Stourbridge Leicester Lions, and South Leicester.

Sale FC 26-38 Caldy

Caldy were made to work hard by Sale FC but stretched their lead to nine points at the top of National Two North following victory at Heywood Road.

Tries from JJ Dickinson and Nick Royle helped the visitors into an 18-13 half-time lead after an explosive start from Sale which saw former Caldy man Adam Aigbokhae touch down.

The hosts came out strongly in the second period and Liam McGovern’s boot as well as a try from Scott Rawlings saw Sale take a 26-21 lead with 10 minutes remaining.

However, Caldy didn’t panic and controlled the final proceedings of this game as they scored 17 unanswered points through Forbes Edwards and Jack Lavin with Lavin converting both and landing a drop goal to seal the win.

Sedgley Park 67-14 Scunthorpe

Sedgley Park moved to within two points of the play-off place thanks to an emphatic win over Scunthorpe.

Dean Schofield’s team scored 11 tries on their way to their biggest win of the season at Park Lane.

Richard Lapori started the rout with the opening try after five minutes, and fellow winger Sam Lowthain grabbed a brace in the first period.

Scunthorpe were very much in this game just before the break as Tom Hughes had scored a double, but two unconverted tries for Sedge put them 29-14 up at half-time.

The hosts then went through the gears after the interval and set the tone for the second 40 by crossing the whitewash just three minutes after the restart.

An injury hit Scunthorpe were able to restrict Sedge for another 20 minutes, but eventually they cracked and the hosts ran in five more tries to complete their rampant display.

Stourbridge 15-10 Hinckley

Hinckley slipped to their first defeat in six matches as they were beaten by Stourbridge who ended their home games this season with a 100 per cent record.

Alex Salt gave the visitors the lead after eight minutes, but a score from James Othuha and a penalty from Luke White put the hosts 10-7 up at the break.

Ashley Elvers stretched Stour’s lead after half-time with a tidy finish.

Joe Glover landed a penalty for Hinckley to bring his side back into this contest and they were able to claim a losing bonus point as that was the end of the scoring for the afternoon.

Stour did have the chance to take the point away with a late penalty, but it sailed wide as the hosts wrapped up their eighth straight victory at Stourton Park.

Leicester Lions 32-25 Otley

Leicester Lions returned to winning ways in National Two North as they battled to victory against an Otley side who saw their three match unbeaten run come to an end.

The Lions ran in three tries in the opening 27 minutes as Devon Constant, Oliver Tapscott and Drew Rudkin dotted down.

The visitors had kept on the heels of Leicester with a try from Paul Petchey and two penalties from Tom Hodson, but a score by James Grayson on the stroke of half-time gave the hosts a 29-13 lead.

Tries from Hodson and Petty in the second period meant that Otley were only four points behind Leicester heading into the final 10 minutes of this contest, but the game was wrapped up with a minute to go as Grayson landed a penalty to secure the win for the Lions.

Luctonians 29-31 South Leicester

Chris Gibbs’ late try secured South Leicester’s first win of the festive period in an enthralling game against the Luctonians.

Rod Crowley and Alex Smith’s tries put the Luctonians in control, but a Penalty Try and a score from Ryan Hough brought South back into this contest.

However, the Lucts had the lead at the break as the ever dependable Louis Silver slotted over a penalty.

Jordan Street’s try stretched the hosts’ lead after the break but late scores from Calum Gunn and then Gibbs secured South’s second successive National Two North win.

Wharfedale 27-21 Chester

Wharfedale held off a late Chester onslaught to secure a victory which sees them move out of the relegation places.

Jimmy Bullough opened the scoring for the home side before Tom Barrett rounded off an excellent move to double their advantage.

Callum Bennett slotted over Chester’s first points of the day, but Dale carried a 21-3 lead into the break as Robbie Davidson touched down.

Barrett landed a penalty to extend Dale’s advantage after the interval, but when Richard Rhodes was yellow-carded for the home side, Chester clawed their way back into this contest.

The away side scored 15 unanswered points in Rhodes’ absence which began with a Harrison Vare try and a Joshua Morris penalty. Ross White’s converted try then brought Chester to within a score.

Barrett knocked over another penalty to ease the nerves at The Avenue before Morris replied instantly to set-up a grandstand finale. However, the away side could not break through as Dale held on for their second consecutive home win.

Sheffield Tigers 12-34 Tynedale

Tynedale extended their winning run to four matches thanks to a five-try victory over Sheffield Tigers.

Tries from Jamie Blamire and Henry Hadfield were cancelled out as Sheffield Tigers made sure this game was level at the break as Ed Simmons and Steve Walker went over for the hosts.

However, Tyne were able to take the game away from the home side after the interval as the visitors scored 24 unanswered points.

Matty Ouston got the ball rolling with a penalty before a Jack Harrison score and two further tries completed the win for the visitors.

Harrogate 28-26 Preston Grasshoppers

A last-minute try from David Doherty gave Harrogate a dramatic and crucial win over Preston Grasshoppers.

The hosts led 18-5 at the break thanks to tries from Olli Rosillo and Jake Brady as well as the boot of Doherty.

Will Lees got the only score of the first period for Preston, but his side began the second-half strongly and were able to level things up.

A penalty from Lewis Allen was the beginning of the Hoppers’ revival and they were handed another lifeline when Guy Coser was yellow-carded for the hosts.

Allen landed the resulting penalty before Jack Harrison went over to tie the game.

Harrogate looked rattled and fell behind for the first time in the match when Allen slotted over another three points before Jacob Browne crossed to put Preston 26-18 up with 10 minutes to go.

The home side looked like they had thrown this game away, but a penalty brought them back to within touching distance of Garth Dew’s men.

Harrogate then continued to press and were rewarded in the dying ambers of this encounter as Doherty barged his way over before holding his nerve with the conversion to secure a precious win for the Yorkshire outfit.