Luctonians and Broadstreet secure crucial wins in race for survival

Last weekend saw drama at the top of National Two North, but this weekend, the main excitement came at the other end of the table as wins for the Luctonians and Broadstreet have shaken things up.

Their victories mean that Huddersfield now sit bottom of the division, but they are only eight points from safety so they are certainly not out of it just yet.

Towards the summit of National Two North, Stourbridge cranked up the pressure on Sedgley Park as they moved second for a few hours after their victory of Caldy, but Sedge responded by edging out Tynedale to take back their second place spot.

Elsewhere, Otley and Harrogate both picked up wins while Chester made it back to back triumphs to start 2016. Preston Grasshoppers’ game with Macclesfield was postponed. 

Tynedale 13-15 Sedgley Park

Fifteen points from the boot of Stephen Collins secured Sedgley Park a vital victory as they edged out Tynedale at a wet Kingston Park.

Collins was the key man for The Tigers as he kicked all five of his penalties in the first half to help Sedge go back into the top two after Stourbridge had won earlier in the day.

The fly-half nudged over three penalties inside 18 minutes before the away side fell behind after an excellent individual kick and chase resulted in a try for Tyne’s Daniel Marshall before Ashley Smith landed a penalty after converting the wingers score.

But back came Collins to give Sedge a half-time lead as he continued to be accurate from the tee as he slotted over two more penalties just before the break.

Both sides were reduced to 14 men just three minutes into the second half as both Alistair Murray and Ben Black received their marching orders.

The conditions gradually got worse in the north-east which resulted in the scoreboard changing just once more before the end of the match as Smith knocked over another penalty 12 minutes from time, but Sedge held out for the win and are now 10 points behind league leaders Macclesfield

Caldy 10-15 Stourbridge

Two tries in the first 11 minutes was enough for Stourbridge to clinch victory over Caldy as they have now lost just one of their last eight matches.

Joseph Heatley scored the opening try after seven minutes before Joshua Trinham produced two outrageous side-steps before touching down to give the visitors an early 0-12 lead.

Derek Salisbury pulled Caldy back into the contest midway through the half as he barged his way over from close range as the hosts started to gain control in the clash.

But the Stourbridge defence was rarely threatened after the break as penalties from Thomas Mitchell and Gavin Roberts were the only scores in the second period as Stour came away with the points.

Luctonians 11-10 Leicester Lions

The Luctonians began their 2016 with a crucial victory at home to Leicester Lions as they battle for survival in National Two North.

Lucts, who have been in the bottom three for most of this campaign, led 6-0 at half-time thanks to two Louis Silver penalties.

A penalty try was awarded to Leicester Lions eight minutes into the second period which gave them the lead and the accuracy from the tee by Jonathan Williams stretched the Lions’ advantage to 6-10 on 53 minutes.

But James Norris put the Luctonians ahead with their first try of the game which proved to be enough for the home side to seal their fifth win of the season which leaves them six points from safety and they still have two games in hand.

Broadstreet 36-28 Sale FC

Broadstreet survived a Sale FC fightback to climb off the bottom of the table after this victory at the Ivor Precce Fields.

Two tries from Andrew Murray and scores from Nicholas Thatcher, Luke Hibberd and Haloti Molitika wrapped up the bonus point in the first half and gave the home side a resounding 33-0 lead at the break.

Sale hit back in the second period through tries from Jonathan Keep and Benjamin Gledhill, but Lee Chapman gave ‘Street an 18 point lead on 63 minutes as he landed a penalty.

But the away side continued to mount a comeback as two more scores from Connor Huffman and Jake Pope reduced the deficit to just eight points with four minutes to go, but it was too little too late for Sale as Broadstreet held on.

Otley 20-10 Huddersfield

Huddersfield are now bottom of National Two North as their defeat away at Otley means they are now eight points from safety.

Lock Declan Dunn scored a brace while Stephen Depledge also touched down to give Otley a 17-3 half-time advantage with Chris Bell kicking the three points for Huddersfield in the first period.

Adam Malthouse crashed over for ‘Field on the hour mark to put them within a converted try of their hosts, but a Joshua Cruise penalty four minutes from time meant Huddersfield came away from Cross Green empty handed as they still go in search of their first away win of the season.

Sandal 17-35 Harrogate

Harrogate scored all 35 of their points against Sandal in the first half on their way to victory at Milnethorpe Green.

Both Lewis Minikin and Callum Irvine crossed twice in the first 40 minutes with Minkin kicking the other 15 points to put the away side in complete control of their first match in 2016.

Sandal flew out of the blocks in the second half as two tries in eight minutes from Simon Frewin and James Eliar made it 14-35.

Greg Wood knocked another three points off Harrogate’s lead on 52 minutes as he slotted over a penalty, but even when Guy Coser was yellow carded for ‘Gate just after the hour, Sandal could not manage to find any more scores as they slumped to their third defeat on the spin.

South Leicester 3-20 Chester

Chester made it back to back wins to start 2016 as they came away from Welford Road victorious against a South Leicester side that beat Sedgley Park last weekend.

Rhys Hayes kicked Chester ahead on two occasions in the first half which was good enough to give them a slender 3-6 advantage at the interval with William Sutton doing the honours for South.

But after the break, Chester dominated proceedings as Craig Ross and Thomas Foden both crossed to secure the win for the Cheshire side who seem to have turned a corner in recent weeks.

Preston Grasshoppers P-P Macclesfield

This game between Preston Grasshoppers and table toppers Macclesfield was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch and has been rescheduled for March 12^th.