National Two North: Sandal end Sedgley's perfect start

After six rounds of matches, Sedgley Park’s unbeaten start to the season came to an end as Sandal produced another excellent home performance.

With Sedgley dropping points, Macclesfield, Caldy and indeed Sandal are now breathing down their necks.

Elsewhere, Broadstreet moved off the bottom of the table after claiming their first victory of the season and there were wins for Chester, Harrogate and Otley. Here is a round-up of all the action from Week Six in National Two North.

Sandal 18-13 Sedgley Park

Sedgley Park’s perfect 100 per cent start to the season came to an end on Saturday as Sandal picked up their fourth straight home win of the season.

A try from Sam Whittingham, a drop goal from Greg Wood and a penalty from Mark Pease helped the hosts into an 11-8 half-time lead, with Matthew Riley crossing for the league leaders.

Juan Crous burst through for Sedgley’s second try to give them an 11-13 advantage, but Simon Frewin crossed on 58 minutes to regain Sandal’s lead and they managed to show incredible mental strength and discipline to see out the win.

Sedgley picked up a sixth bonus point of the season and remain top whilst Sandal move up to fourth, after bouncing back from their defeat to Huddersfield.

Tynedale 20-47 Macclesfield

Macclesfield are now just one point behind Sedgley Park after picking up their fifth victory in a row by scoring seven tries in a comfortable win over Tynedale.

The Blues, who were relegated from National One with Tyne last season, were actually 20-12 behind at the break with tries by Benjamin Ball and Jack Harrison for the home side.

But, Macclesfield responded in fine fashion after the interval scoring 35 unanswered points.

After Joshua Fowles and Elliot Brierley had crossed in the first half for Macc, Fowles scored three more tries in the second half with Lewis Baker and Elliot Milar-Miles also adding further tries.

South Leicester 18-25 Caldy

Caldy secured their fourth straight win with this victory over South Leicester at Welford Road to move up to third in the table as they continue to mount a promotion challenge.

Gavin Roberts slotted over a penalty and scored a try in the first-half for Caldy after Ricci Aley’s two penalties had given South an early lead.

Christopher Zubic was shown a yellow card just after the restart for the home side and despite Roberts nudging over another penalty, South scored their second try of the match through Calum Gunn.

With the score at 13-16, Roberts pinged over another two penalties before Thomas Sanders was shown a yellow card for Caldy eight minutes from time.

South fought back once again as replacement David Peck went over to make it 18-22. Caldy were then reduced to 13 men when John Broxson was sin-binned, but the Wirral side held on as Roberts knocked over his fifth penalty of the afternoon.

Leicester Lions 23-23 Stourbridge

Stourbridge came from behind to draw with high flying Leicester Lions at Westleigh Park.

William Roach and Josheph Collingham crossed for the hosts to give them a 17-8 half-time lead, with Christopher Depper going over for Stour.

After the break, Jonathan Williams slotted over a penalty to stretch the Lions’ advantage, but a try from Nigel Mukarati reduced the deficit to just two points.

Williams nudged over another two penalties before Joseph Heatley grabbed Stour’s third try of the afternoon, but the visitors failed to convert.

With the score now at 23-20, Thomas Mitchell struck home a penalty 12 minutes from time, but neither side were able to create enough to find a late winner.

Luctonians 5-34 Chester

Chester beat the Luctonians to maintain their 100 per cent record on the road this season.

Leading 5-13 at half-time thanks to a Thomas Foden try and eight points from the boot of Callum Bennett, John Ketland’s try increased Chester’s lead three minutes into the second period.

James Preston and Kyle Joseph added further tries for Chester to seal the win with the Lucts’ only score coming from James Norris in the first half.

Harrogate 27-8 Huddersfield

Hartogate ended a run of two home wins in their last nine matches with victory over Huddersfield at Rudding Lane.

Tries from Thomas White, Callum Irvine and Lewis Minikin put ‘Gate in control at the break with Field’s only points coming from Chris Bell to make the score 20-3.

Steven Maycock was sin-binned six minutes into the second half for the home side and Huddersfield took full advantage as Adam Malthouse barged his way over.

But, any hopes of comeback were dashed as replacement Adam Tamanis was shown a red-card on 68 minutes for Huddersfield.

Minkin then made sure of victory five minutes from time as he scored his second try of the match to secure Harrogate the bonus point win.

Otley 40-34 Sale FC

Otley picked their first home win of the season after surviving an immense onslaught from Sale who quite rightly took two bonus points away with them from Cross Green.

Michael Coady and Henry Roberts scored the decisive tries for the home side after a late score from Sale’s Samuel Stelmaszek.

The visitors scored through Joseph Kelly and Stelmaszek in a thrilling first half while George Burkinshaw, Stephen Depledge and Henry Roberts crossed for Otley before the break.

With the scores level at 20-20 heading into the second 40, Sale took the early initiative as Thomas Ailes crossed straight after the restart.

Adam Aigbokhae was then sin-binned for Sale and Otley exploited it. They scored a penalty try from the resulting yellow card and Coady crossed two minutes later to give them a 32-27 lead.

Depledge slotted over a penalty before Stelmaszek claimed his second try,15 minutes from time to set up a nervy finish.

However, Otley maintained their concentration and Roberts dotted down on 75 minutes to seal the victory.

Broadstreet 26-8 Preston Grasshoppers

Broadstreet moved off the foot of the table as they secured their first win of the season at home to Preston Grasshoppers.

16 points from the boot of Dan Richards was the difference between the sides as he kicked ‘Street into a 9-3 half-time lead with the ever reliable Sean Taylor scoring Preston’s first half points.

Todd Freemantle grabbed a well finished try just after the interval before Samuel Gale got the Hoppers only try of the day on the hour mark.

Richards knocked over his fourth penalty before Andrew Murray was shown a yellow card for the hosts in the final stages of the game.

However, there was still time for ‘Street to cross again as Liam Munroe scored his second try in two weeks to round off  Broadstreet’s first victory of the season.