Harrogate secure vital win in National Two North

Bottom of the table Harrogate welcomed Wharfedale to Rudding Lane in Round 10 and it was the hosts that picked up the crucial win in this early relegation clash.

Director of Rugby and full-back David Doherty clinched Harrogate’s second win of the season as his side moved to within five points of safety.

At the top of the division, Caldy maintained their stay at the summit thanks to a victory over Sheffield Tigers while Sale FC still continue to be on their coattails following a terrific win against Scunthorpe.

Below them, Sedgley Park’s unbeaten record came to an end away at Leicester Lions, Stourbridge returned to winning ways and newly-promoted Hinckley made it three wins on the spin.

Sheffield Tigers 10-34 Caldy

Caldy’s National Two North promotion hopes were boosted once again as they comprehensively beat Sheffield Tigers in Yorkshire to stay top of the division.

Tries from Ben Jones, Thomas Sanders, Louis McGowan, Tom Banks, Nick Royle and Jack Lavin secured the bonus-point win for a Caldy side that are now unbeaten in nine matches.

Lee Monks and Liam Wallace both scored for Sheffield who have dropped to 11^th in the table and they are six points clear of the relegation zone.

Sale FC 52-5 Scunthorpe

Sale remain hot on the heels of Caldy as the Manchester-based club outclassed Scunthorpe at Heywood Road to stay two points behind the league leaders.

Sale ran in eight tries overall, with all eight being scored by different players.

Gareth Rawlings, Matt Simpson, Jack Moorhouse and Liam McGovern all touched down in the first 40 minutes before Scott Rawlings, Scott Briggs, Tom Ailes and James Conville got their names on the score sheet as the home side ran riot over Scunthorpe.

A Will Robinson try at the end of the first period provided scant consolation for the visitors.

Leicester Lions 26-23 Sedgley Park

Sedgley Park’s unbeaten start to the season came to an end on Saturday as a late Jon Boden penalty clinched victory for Leicester Lions at Westleigh Park.

Three penalties from the boot of Steve Collins gave Sedgley Park a 9-3 lead at half-time with the visitors dominating at scrum time.

Sedge had Collins sin-binned just before the break and the home side took advantage of this at the beginning of the second 40.

The Lions added to Boden’s first-half penalty with a touchdown by Tom Emery and a well worked Sam Benjamin try, before Boden slotted over another three points.

Sedge prop Harri Greville then crossed, but controversy followed soon after. Referee Neil Chivers awarded a penalty to Leicester from the restart, but it looked as though there was a high-tackle on a Sedgley lock just before that.

However, the penalty stayed in the Lions’ favour and Boden bisected the posts to extend his sides lead to 23-16.

Sedge then used their power up-front once again to set up a tense finish. Their platform from the scrum allowed Andrew Riley to go over and Collins converted to level the game up with 10 minutes remaining.

The visitors sensed that they had a chance of winning this contest, but their urgency to snatch the victory resulted in them conceding two penalties, one of which Boden converted which ultimately sealed a third straight win for the Lions.

Stourbridge 34-24 Chester

Stourbridge sealed victory over an in-form Chester side at Stourton Park to stay in touch with the early frontrunners.

Luke White, who has been the star man this season for Stour, played a key role with 14 points and his influence helped secure a much needed win for the hosts who were in danger of falling further behind in the promotion race.

James Othuh and Sam Wilkes’ tries gave Stour a 17-14 advantage at half-way, with Craig Ross and Guy Ford going over for Chester.

Ross’ second score put Chester two points ahead after the restart, but their lead lasted just three minutes as Tom Harrison touched down for the hosts which White converted before the fly-half nudged over another three points for his side.

Ross White then reduced Stour’s lead to three points as he crossed for Chester just after the hour to give the away side hope.

However, Stourbridge stood firm in the final quarter of this contest and wrapped up the game when Joe Heatley dived over on 77 minutes.

South Leicester 33-31 Otley

South Leicester survived a spirited Otley fightback to earn their second win on the bounce in this tight affair at Welford Road.

Harry Priestner, Aaron Martin and Calum Gunn all crossed in the first-half for South who carried a 21-7 lead into the break, Paul Petchley going over for Otley.

The visitors then sparked into life after the interval as a brace from Max Johnson and a score from Henry Roberts in 13 second-half minutes put Otley two points ahead in this contest.

Ben Hough replied for South just after the hour to put the home side back ahead, but it was the Yorkshire outfit that held the advantage with just under 10 minutes remaining as Timloma Kivalu dotted down.

The unconverted score restored Otley’s two point lead, but it was wiped out six minutes from time as Tom Cheney dived over to seal a hard-fought win for South.

Luctonians 20-12 Preston Grasshoppers

The Luctonians ended a run of three games without a win as they secured victory over Preston Grasshoppers to remain in the top half of National Two North.

The Lucts welcomed Preston to Mortimer Park having not tasted victory since the beginning of October and led 10-7 at the break in this contest thanks to a converted try from Louis Silver and a penalty from the fly-half.

Rob Bramhall got the only try of the first-half for Preston, but it was their hosts that extended their lead as Joe White was driven over on 51 minutes.

Silver kicked another penalty, but the Hoppers had the last word as Jack Harrison weaved his way through the Lucts defence to score late on. Lewis Allen’s conversion, which would have secured a losing bonus point, struck the posts as Preston suffered another frustrating afternoon.

Tynedale 12-22 Hinckley

Hinckley made it three wins from their last three games as they beat Tynedale at Corbridge to move further away from the bottom three.

Hinckley, who had won just one of their first seven matches, are now five points clear of the relegation zone following another triumph.

After an early penalty try for the visitors, Steve Harvey and Alex Salt both touched down to give Hinckley a 22-5 lead at the break.

Henry Hadfield got Tyne’s first-half score, but the hosts had to wait until the final minute of the game to go over again as Finlay Magowan dotted down for a consolation try as Hinckley celebrated yet another victory.

Harrogate 20-17 Wharfedale

Harrogate recorded their second victory of the season as they beat early relegation rivals Wharfedale thanks to a star performance from David Doherty.

Doherty - who is Harrogate’s commercial director, Director of Rugby and full-back – scored all of Harrogate’s points of their way to this vital win.

He kicked five first-half penalties to put ‘Gate 15-10 up at the break, with Josh Burridge and Ian Larkin going over for Wharfedale.

James Guy then scored and converted his own try to put Dale two points ahead before Doherty crossed for the visitors to put them back in front.

‘Gate marshalled the last quarter of this game well and held on for a crucial victory as they look to move themselves off the bottom of the table and out of danger.