Chester leave it late as promotion race takes another twist

So far this season in National Two North, the fight for a place in the top two has been an enthralling one and yet again, we saw another key weekend of action towards the top end of the table in Round 11.

With four of the top six sides taking on each other, there was always going to be entertainment in National Two North.

League leaders Caldy held their nerve as they overcame Stourbridge to begin a tricky run of fixtures with a win while Chester are up to fifth following a sensational turnaround in fortunes against fellow promotion rivals Leicester Lions.

Sale FC and Sedgley Park kept their cool to stay in touch with table toppers Caldy while in the bottom half of the division, Harrogate and Wharfedale remain on equal points following narrow defeats and Hinckley continued their winning streak.

Caldy 14-9 Stoubridge

Caldy clinched a tense victory over Stourbridge at Paton Fields to stay top of the National Two North table.

A penalty from Luke White actually put the visitors 3-0 ahead at the break as both sides failed to fashion any clear chances in the first period.

The second-half was much livelier though and the league leaders took control. Ben Jones dotted down for the only try of this game on 55 minutes before the replacement full-back landed two penalties to put Caldy 11-3 up.

Stourbridge then came back at their hosts but White’s second penalty was cancelled out by Jones’ third. However, Stour were determined not to leave the Wirral without a bonus point and White clinched it for the away side with a late three points from the tee.

Wharfedale 13-18 Sale FC

Two Chris Townsend tries helped Sale FC overcome Wharfedale as they remain two points behind league leaders Caldy.

Sale led 18-7 at half-time, Townsend scoring a brace and Liam McGovern landing three kicks for Sale as Tom Barrett grabbed Dale’s try which the fly-half also converted.

The visitors failed to add to their total in the second period as Wharfedale were much the better side. They pressed to close the gap and were rewarded with two penalties slotted over by Barrett.

However, despite a much stronger display by the Skipton-based side, they couldn’t overturn the deficit as Sale secured their third away win of the term.

Sedgley Park 14-7 Harrogate

Two tries in the opening 10 minutes was enough for Sedgley Park to secure a home victory over Harrogate and move up to third in the National Two North table.

The hosts led 14-7 at the break courtesy of Matt Riley’s converted try which took him over the 1000 point mark for Sedgley Park. His side were at it again moments later as they dotted down from close range to double their advantage.

Lock Sam Brady was yellow-carded for Harrogate, but rather than Sedge taking the game away from Harrogate, the visitors held firm and showed some stern defence and excellent power up front to keep them in this game.

And Harrogate were rewarded for their endeavour as Tom Larder powered over in the last move of the half and David Doherty added the extras.

There were no scores in the second period, but Sedge wouldn’t have minded that as they now sit five points off the top two places while this was another encouraging display by Harrogate even if they do remain bottom of the division.

Chester 20-19 Leicester Lions

Chester produced a remarkable comeback in the final 20 minutes as they turned around a 19 point deficit to beat Leicester Lions at Hare Lane.

The Lions were 14-0 ahead at the break before they added their third try of the game just before the hour to give themselves a comfortable cushion in this encounter.

However, their advantage was to be wiped out. Harrison Vare touched down in the corner to begin the Chester revival before Freeman Payne and captain Guy Ford both went over to reduce the deficit to four points as the game approached its climax.

Back came Chester and with the final play of the match, they snatched victory with their fourth try to keep the Cheshire side within touching distance of the promotion places in National Two North.

Hinckley 10-6 South Leicester

Hinckley edged out South Leicester to stretch their winning run to four matches in National Two North.

Hinckley, promoted from National Three Midlands in May, are now up to 11^th in the table after this latest triumph.

Following tries from Callum Dacey and Mitch Lamb, the home side led 10-3 at the break with Ricky Aley landing a penalty for the visitors.

It could have been more for Hinckley as South were reduced to 13 men during the first period, but the away side held firm.

The second-half was all South though in this local affair and the tone was set when Aley struck over his second penalty on 48 minutes. The men from Welford Road declined a number of kickable penalty opportunities as the half wore on, but some great defence by Hinckley meant their line was not to be broken.

Otley 42-22 Luctonians

Tom Hodson starred as Otley continued their 100 per cent record at home this season by securing a thumping bonus-point win over the Luctonians at Cross Green.

Hodson, who joined Otley from Huddersfield in the summer, grabbed a hat-trick and kicked six conversions to help his side to a fifth straight win on home soil.

The hosts led 28-8 at half-time with all three of Hodson’s tries  coming in the first period while Max Johnson also got in on the act. Louis Silver scored all eight of the Luctonians’ points.

Otley continued to press after the break as Simon Willet touched down for the fifth try of the afternoon before the Luctonians capitalised on a yellow-card shown to Johnson as Owen Davies barged his way over.

However, the Lucts were behind their posts once again eight minutes later as Otley were rewarded a Penalty Try which Hodson duly converted.

As the game entered its latter stages, Otley were reduced to 14 men once again as Ben Steele was sin-binned seconds after he had come off the bench and, the away side took advantage once more as Piers Morell dotted down.

But, it was Otley who held on for their fifth win of the season as their excellent performances at Cross Green continued.

Scunthorpe 15-17 Tynedale

Tynedale secured their first away win of the season as they edged out newly-promoted Scunthorpe at Heslam Park.

Tyne led 12-10 after the break thanks to a Jack Harrison brace, with Scunthorpe’s points coming via a Guy Mychajluk try and two kicks from Steve Johnson.

Mychajluk then put the home side in front with his second try of the game before Oliver Walker squeezed over in the corner to put Tynedale back ahead.

The rest of this encounter was a war of attrition as Scunthorpe battled away at the Tynedale line, but any hopes the home side had of clinching a win were dented as Will Robinson was red-carded on 68 minutes and Tyne were then able to see out this game.

Preston Grasshoppers 32-21 Sheffield Tigers

Preston Grasshoppers secured a much need victory over Sheffield Tigers as 22 points from the boot of Lewis Allen helped them to their first win in three games.

The Hoppers didn’t make the best of starts to this contest though as a Henri Packard try and three penalties from Angus Bowyer put Sheffield Tigers 14-3 ahead.

But the hosts turned it around before the break, with Allen kicking three penalties as well as converting Phil Mills’ try which gave them a 16-14 advantage.

Allen knocked over three more penalties after the break before Will Hunt’s converted try ultimately sealed the win for Garth Dew’s side.

Their 32-14 lead was then cut late on as the Tigers were awarded a Penalty Try, but it was Preston that gained the victory which will be a massive confidence booster.