Sale FC take control of play-off spot

Sale FC produced an outstanding performance away at Stourbridge to stay in the driving seat for the play-off position in National Two North.

Jonathan Keep’s side became the first team to beat Stour at Stourton Park this term and this crucial victory now leaves them 13 points clear of the chasing pack.

Above Sale, Caldy continue to control top spot as yet another victory keeps them on course to lift the title in two months’ time.

Elsewhere, there were some huge results in the bottom half of the table in Round 21. Luctonians and Sheffield Tigers both ended losing streaks as they beat Sedgley Park and Wharfedale respectively while Otley claimed their first win of 2017.

Other results from the weekend saw Leicester Lions and Hinckley both secure wins while Chester stayed in the top six after victory over South Leicester

Tynedale 17-30 Caldy

Caldy stretched their unbeaten run to 20 matches as they earned a victory over Tynedale at Corbridge.

First- half tries from Tom Sanders and Louis McGowan as well as a penalty via Jack Lavin helped Caldy lead 20-17 at half-time with Tyne more than matching their hosts in the opening 40 after scores from Louis Frankland and Jack Harrison.

Another Lavin penalty increased Caldy’s lead but Tyne failed to respond in the second period as the league leaders ran in one more try, scored by Rhys Hayes, to complete a 13^th straight victory for Simon Verbicaks’ men.

Stourbridge 19-40 Sale FC

Sam Stelmaszek’s early try set Sale FC on their way to a seventh successive National Two North win as they ended Stourbridge’s 100 per cent home record for the season.

Scores from Tom Alies and Ciaran Connolly extended the visitors’ advantage while the reliable kicking of Liam McGovern helped establish a 22-0 lead.

Jack Moorhouse stretched Sale’s lead after the break before Chris Johnson went over to secure the second placed side a bonus-point.

The former Fylde fly-half also landed a drop-goal while Stourbridge could only muster up three tries through Will Hollis, Nathan Tilsley and Dan Rundle at the start of the second period and this defeat now leaves them with a mountain to climb if they are to finish in the top two.

Leicester Lions 28-15 Harrogate

Leicester Lions moved up to third in National Two North as they proved too much for Harrogate at Westleigh Park.

The Lions clinched a four try bonus-point thanks to a late try from Oli Taylor which leaves them 13 points behind second placed Sale FC, but with a game in hand.

Taylor’s score followed a first-half brace from Ian Smith while Keane Naylor touched down for the visitors as Leicester went into the break 14-5 ahead.

Naylor crossed again after the interval, but a Benji Marfo try restored the Lions’ lead to nine points.

Sam Fox looked as though he had salvaged a bonus-point for ‘Gate with a late penalty, but from the restart, Taylor crossed for the Lions to secure the hosts all five points.

Luctonians 23-14 Sedgley Park

Luctonians secured their first win in 11 matches as they came from behind to stun Sedgley Park at Mortimer Park.

After Johnny Morris’ early penalty had put the Lucts ahead, Jonny Matthews scored a converted try to put the visitors 7-6 up at half-time despite Sedge being reduced to 13-men for a chunk of the first period.

A score from Captain Alex Smith put the hosts back in front – following yet another yellow-card shown to Sedge - before Joe White’s score ultimately sealed victory.

Sedge did have the final word of the day as Andy Riley sneaked under the posts, but the afternoon belonged to Luctonians.

South Leicester 10-22 Chester

Chester returned to winning ways after defeat to Tynedale as they earned a hard-fought victory over South Leicester at Welford Road.

This three-try triumph for the visitors sees them take further control of sixth spot in National Two North and now the men from Hare Lane have won four of their last five matches.

As for South, they remain seventh in the table, but it is now just two wins in five for the Midlands side following this home defeat.

Hinckley 29-22 Preston Grasshoppers

Sixteen points from full-back Conor Bullivant helped Hinckley seal victory over Preston Grasshoppers despite a spirited comeback by the visitors at Leicester Road.

A converted try and a penalty by Bullivant as well as a score from Captain Alex Salt earned the hosts a 15-8 half-time lead after Preston had gone ahead thanks to three points from Lewis Allen and a try via Sam Gale.

The Hoppers started the second-half quickly, but failed to capitalise on their pressure which allowed Hinckley to extend their lead. Ally Murray was sin-binned for the away side and Chris Campbell’s men took full advantage as Ben Avent dotted down.

Gale then joined Murray in the sin-bin and once again Hinckley went over as Salt grabbed his second try of the afternoon.

But the final quarter of this match belonged to Preston as Jack Akrigg and Murray both crossed to secure the away side an unlikely losing bonus-point.

Otley 32-8 Scunthorpe

Otley recorded their first win of 2017 in emphatic fashion as they beat Scunthorpe at Cross Green.

Adam Middleton and Tom Hodson exchanged penalties after a very cagey first 30 minutes before Hodson claimed the first try of the game.

The floodgates then opened in the remaining minutes of the opening 40 as James White and Alex Beaumont both crossed to give Otley a 20-3 half-time lead.

The hosts had too much for Scunthorpe after the break as Paul Petchey and Max Johnson went over to render Gareth Mist’s try for the away side a mere consolation.

Sheffield Tigers 14-8 Wharfedale

Sheffield Tigers ended a run of 12 straight defeats as they clinched a much needed victory over Wharfedale.

A try by Jamie Broadley and three penalties from Mark Ireland gave the hosts a 14-0 interval lead.

The visitors scored eight unanswered points after the break thanks a try by Harry Bullough and a successful penalty which gave Dale the momentum.

However the visitors were unable to find another breakthrough and had to settle for a losing bonus-point as the Tigers’ win moved them off the foot of the table.