Derby delight for Lions

After victory over local rivals Hinckley last weekend, that win was matched in Round 16 by Leicester Lions as they beat near neighbours South Leicester to earn the bragging rights once again.

The Lions had narrowly edged out South earlier in the season and achieved a similar outcome on Saturday to keep them above their city foes, but the victory also keeps them in the promotion hunt.

Caldy remain on top of the table as they stretched their unbeaten run to 15 matches as they maintained their 100 per cent home record while Sale FC stay second heading into 2017.

At the wrong end of the table, Preston Grasshoppers are bottom at Christmas as they suffered a heavy defeat against Sedgley Park while Harrogate saw a lead slip away from them against Tynedale and Sheffield Tigers are now in the drop zone.

Caldy 21-3 Chester

Caldy maintained their nine point lead at the top of National Two North after beating Chester at Paton Fields.

The home side led 9-3 thanks to three Jack Lavin penalties, with Chester only managing to muster up one opportunity from the tee.

But the league leaders’ superiority shone through when Lavin dotted down before Tom Sanders went over right at the death to complete the victory.

Sale FC 25-14 Hinckley

Sale FC consolidated their top two spot in National Two North by beating Hinckley at Heywood Road.

Ollie Longmore and Liam McGovern scored tries for the Manchester-based club, with Andrew Hughes also touching down.

McGovern also added two penalties and two conversions.

Conor Buillivant and Matthew Fearn went over for Hinckley during their brightest spell of the match in the first-half, but it was the hosts that prevailed to end the year second in the division.

Sedgley Park 34-17 Preston Grasshoppers

Sedgley Park remain unbeaten at Park Lane this season as the hosts’ experienced players starred in their victory over Preston Grasshoppers.

Jonny Matthews and Andy Riley both bagged a brace for the home side and Richard Lepori and Max Skofic also touched down.

Preston had Sam Gale and Ally Murray sin-binned midway through the first period which allowed Sedge to ultimately win this contest in the opening 40 minutes.

Chris Roddy touched down for Preston just before the break and when Sedge were shown two yellow-cards, the visitors grew into the encounter.

Jack Swarbrick and Chris Taylor both crossed in the second-half for the Hoppers, but they were unable to salvage any bonus-points and remain bottom of the table heading into the Christmas break.

Stourbridge 26-5 Luctonians

Stourbridge made it nine consecutive home victories as they beat the Luctonians at Stourton Park.

Stour, who have not lost or drawn on home soil this season, led 7-0 at the break thanks to a Dan Rundle try, converted by Chris Easton.

A try from Joe Heatley gave the home side some much needed breathing space in this contest before scores by Ciaran Moore and Heatley again extended their lead.

The Lucts had more than matched their hosts all afternoon and were finally awarded for their endeavour as Piers Morell crashed over late on for a consolation try.

Leicester Lions 29-26 South Leicester

A late try from Sam Benjamin saw Leicester Lions come from behind to defeat local rivals South Leicester.

South led 16-10 at the break following Tom Cheney’s try and a conversion and three penalties from Rickie Aley, with Benjamin Marfo’s try plus five points via the boot of Jon Boden for the Lions.

Harry Mahoney’s try reduced South’s lead but a Myles Bean score and another penalty from Aley made it 23-17 to the visitors.

Kris McFedries darted over to move the hosts to within four points of their near neighbours before Benjamin rescued it for the Lions with a converted try in the final 10 minutes of this contest.

Harrogate 15-22 Tynedale

Tynedale head into the Christmas break seventh in the National Two North table as they fought back to clinch victory against Harrogate.

Tyne, who have now won their last four away matches, were 10-7 behind at half-time as David Doherty converted his own try while also slotting a penalty for the hosts.

Graeme Dunn had grabbed Tynedale’s try in the first period, but his side found themselves further behind at the beginning of the second 40 as a superb individual try by Doherty extended the home sides’ lead.

Tyne full-back Ash Smith brought his side right back into this contest with a penalty before he converted his own try to give the visitors a slender two point advantage.

Harrogate’s indiscipline was costing them in the second period and it resulted in them conceding the final try of the day as Jonny Mock dived over from an attacking line-out to wrap things up for Tyne.

Wharfedale 27-17 Otley

Wharfedale have moved out of the relegation zone in National Two North thanks to their third successive home victory against Otley.

Luke Chadwick scored an early try for Otley, but Dan Stockdale replied following excellent build up play by the home side before Dale nudged themselves in front thanks to a James Guy penalty.

However, the home side were trailing at the break as they conceded a Penalty Try right at the end of the first period.

The hosts began the second-half the stronger and were rewarded when Robbie Davidson darted over to put Wharfedale ahead, but the game was all square moments later as Tom Hodson landed a penalty.

Dale responded immediately to that minor setback as Guy’s penalty put his side in front and they then delivered the hammer blow as Davidson dotted down for his second try of the afternoon to secure an excellent win for Wharfedale.

Scunthorpe 26-12 Sheffield Tigers

Scunthorpe are now four points clear of the bottom three as they beat Sheffield Tigers to secure back to back victories.

The Tigers were actually 12-11 ahead at half-time in this contest thanks to a score from Henri Packard as well as an incepted try, despite being reduced to 13 men.

A try from Colin Chapman as well as two penalties from Steve Johnson made up Scunthorpe’s first-half points, but the hosts battled their way back into this game and as a result, scored 15 unanswered points after the interval.

After only six minutes of the second period, Ash Dibden powered over to put Scunthorpe in front and even when Johnson was yellow-carded, the hosts extended their advantage.

Brothers James and Nick Dyson combined with the latter crossing the whitewash on 59 minutes, but the Greens then lost their discipline. Gareth Mist was sin-binned before Johnson picked up his second yellow-card meaning he was dismissed from the field and the hosts were now on the ropes.

However, Sheffield’s pressure came to nothing and with the home side now back to 14 men; they were rewarded a penalty late on which they converted to clinch another vital victory.