Most games in the National Conference League this week fell into one of two categories – close nervy affairs or runaway victories.
We have chosen the following four games to look at in more depth this time round: Pilkington Recs v Egremont Rangers, Kells v West Bowling, Dewsbury Moor v Crosfields and Hensingham v Seaton Rangers.
Premier Division:
Pilkington Recs 22 Egremont Rangers 24
Egremont Rangers claimed a road trip win at Ruskin Drive but had to repel a spirited comeback after originally building a 20-6 advantage.
The hosts made an excellent start to the game when Terry Riley scored the first of two tries after three minutes. Kyran Knapper goaled. Rangers however upped the tempo and points followed. Brad Long grabbed their first try after 8 minutes and he was soon followed by Aaron Turnbull. Matt Centre Hutchins further extended the visitors advantage with Matt Bewsher converting for a 14-6 advantage in the 26th minute.
Just before half-time it got even better for Egremont when Tobie Corrie scored and the boot of Bewsher rounded first half scoring off.
Jordan Morris of Pilks opened second half scoring but Knapper couldn't goal. Crucially the visitors posted their fifth try through Sean Muberson after 54 minutes to make it 10-24, but the final quarter belonged to Pilkington Recs with tries from Tyler Duberry and Terry Riley, both goaled by Knapper. This kept the hosts in touch but Egremont held out for the win.
Scores and scorers:
Pilkington Recs 22
Tries: Terry Riley 2, Jordan Morris, Tyler Duberry.
Goals: Kyran Knapper 3.
Egremont Rangers 24
Tries: Brad Long, Aaron Turnbull, Matt Hutchins, Toby Corrie, Sean Mumberson.
Goals: Matt Bewsher 2.
Hunslet Club Parkside 0
Tries: -
Goals: -
Thatto Heath Crusaders 18
Tries: Josh Crehan, Adam Hesketh, Harry Reardon.
Goals: Sean Leicester 3.
West Hull 38
Tries: Nathan Powley, Thomas Burke, Jack Ridsill, Ben Arbon, Elliott Jones, Jack Lazenby, Ethan Shore.
Goals: Ryan Wilson 5
Rochdale Mayfield 18
Tries: Kyle Marvin, Zac Hartley, Nic Hargreaves.
Goals: Zac Hartley 3.
Wath Brow Hornets 26
Tries: Nathan Lucock, Sam Curwen, Daniel Burns, Joe Power, Charlie Tomlinson.
Goals: Cole Walker Taylor 3.
Thornhill Trojans 0
Tries: -
Goals: -
Siddal 36
Tries: Christian Ackroyd, Mark Boothroyd, Jack Georgiou 2, Lewis Hosty, Ben Hinsley.
Goals: Jamie Greenwood 6.
Leigh Miners Rangers 6
Try: Noah Lancelott.
Goal: Harvey Gotts 1.
York Acorn 14
Tries: Nathan Welsh, Nick Speck.
Goals: Josh Parker 3.
Lock Lane 44
Tries: Callum Butler, Dan Sowerby 2, Tom Sowerby 2, James Cranswick, Owen Brock, Bailey O'Connor.
Goals: Nathan Fozzard 6.
Division One:
Kells 28 West Bowling 14
Kells made a winning start to their National Conference League Division One campaign, accounting for West Bowling. The hosts established a 16-0 half-time advantage. It all started in the 8th minute when Jordan Burns went over and Ross Gainford added the first of four goals. Will Ennis grabbed the next Kells try after 17 minutes and when Burns scored his second, the hosts were in control.
Credit has to go to West Bowling for the way they competed and fought back in the second half. They scored their first try after 44 minutes through Kyle Moore and added a second after 65 minutes through Gavin Wilkinson; Harry Williams converting. Lewis Taylor then closed the deficit to two points, but Kells grabbed the crucial score from Ross Ainley. Bowling's Moore was sinbinned in the latter stages for a professional foul and Kells had the final say when James Ennis slipped through for Gainford to goal.
Scores and scorers:
Kells 28
Tries: Jordan Burns 2, Will Ennis, Ross Ainley, James Ennis.
Goals: Ross Gainford 4.
West Bowling 14
Tries: Kyle Moore, Gavin Wilkinson, Lewis Taylor.
Goals: Harry Williams 1.
Hull Dockers 28
Tries: Dan Sudaby, Kallum Birch, Jon McCloud, Chris Wyth 2.
Goals: Dan Sudaby 4.
Wigan St Patricks 26
Tries: Jack Sproat, Phil Glover 2, Jordan Penney, Craig Thomas.
Goals: Taylor Hyland 3.
Oulton Raiders 22
Tries: Hal Day, Kieron Walpole, Adrian Holdsworth, Harvey Stevens.
Goals: Archie Craggs 3.
Featherstone Lions 6
Tries: Jake Roberts.
Goals: Jake Perkins 1.
Saddleworth Rangers 18
Tries: Evan Parry, Steven Nield 2.
Goals: Charlie McManus 3.
Skirlaugh 20
Tries: Nathan Slater, Joshua Oliver, Stephen Batty.
Goals: Ryan Hilton 4.
Ince Rose Bridge 30
Tries: Danny Dainty 3, Jack Morrison, Gary Jones, Craig Sanby.
Goals: Danny Rigby 3.
Milford 28
Tries: Steve Bacon 3, Tom Wilson 2, Rhys Greenall
Goals: Jake Payne 2.
Stanningley 32
Tries: Ben Selby, Nathan Darby, Tom Flannery, Adam Butterill, Jack Sykes, Carl McGuigan.
Goals: Tom Flannery 4.
Myton Warriors 16
Tries: Ash James, Adam Piggott, Liam Ward.
Goals: Ash James 2.
Division Two:
Dewsbury Moor 16 Crosfields 26
A hat-trick of tries from centre Jack Fox helped Crosfields to victory at Dewsbury Moor. The hosts opened scoring after five minutes with a try from prop forward Andrew Burland. Brad Foster goaled for a 6-0 advantage.
Fox responded with his first try in the eleventh minute and scoring paused until 33 minutes in when Fox again got clear. That effort was goaled by Ian Boden and just as Crosfields thought that was it, Dewsbury Moor edged in front on the stroke of half-time when James Samme crossed and Foster tagged on his second goal to make it 12-10.
Fox nudged the visitors in front again with his third after 45 minutes and the response came quickly. Jack Clarkson scoring for Moor within three minutes. Two tries in the last thirteen minutes tipped the contest in favour of the Soap. Jacob Chamberlain grabbed the first with Brad Stanway goaling, than with just six minutes remaining, the game was secured through full back John Whittaker and Stanway added his second goal.
Scores and scorers:
Dewsbury Moor 16
Tries: Andrew Burland, James Samme, Jack Clarkson.
Goals: Brad Foster 2.
Crosfields 26
Tries: Jack Fox 3, Jacob Chamberlain, John Whittaker.
Goals: Ian Boden 1, Brad Stanway 2.
Clock Face 46
Tries: Shaun Costello, Karle Hunt 2, Scott Thompson, Michael Carney, Jack Highcock, Luke Forber 2.
Goals: Jack Highcock 7.
Dewsbury Celtic 0
Tries: -
Goals: -
Barrow Island 30
(No first names provided).
Tries: N Snersby, S Sanderson, C McBain, D Wright, A McEwan.
Goals: A Jackson 5.
Hunslet Warriors 22
Tries: Josh McLelland, Lee West, Liam Gaunt, Tyler Dargan.
Goals: Liam Gaunt 3.
Beverley 21
Tries: Billy Riby, Francis Coggle, Josh Poskitt, Alex Calvert.
Goals: Josh Poskitt 2, Lewis Poskitt FG.
Normanton Knights 22
Tries: Jacob Crossland 2, Alex Barker, Connor Wilson.
Goals: Charlie Barker 1, Joe Crossland 2.
Woolston Rovers 40
Tries: Adam Files 3, Dan Fearnley, Olly Parr, Ben Dixon, Harry Files, Paul Alcock.
Goals: Morgan Williams 4.
Wigan St Judes 0
Tries: -
Goals: -
Bradford Dudley Hill 6
Tries: Aiden Batey.
Goals: Neil Wall 1,
Heworth 42
Tries: Tyler Craig 2, Cam Taylor 2, Liam Richmond, Harry Morland, Ben Barnard, Jack Aldous.
Goals: Danny Allan 5.
Division Three:
Hensingham 14 Seaton Rangers 16
A try seven minutes from time by centre Ryan Heron helped Seaton Rangers maintain their unbeaten start to the season following a pulsating Cumbrian derby.
Little separated the teams throughout with JJ Key opening the score for the visitors with a Dom Smallwood converted try after three minutes. Just before the break Hensingham responded through Taylor Richardson, goaled by Noel Braithwaite and it was all locked up at 6-6 at the break.
Hensingham had the better of early second half play and scored two tries during the third quarter through Scott Egan and Jessie Joe Parker. At 14-6 Hensingham held an uneasy advantage and when a dropped ball paved the way for Levi Wallbank to score, Smallwood goaled to make it 14-12 with 15 minutes remaining. Then came Ryan Heron's heroics and the league points went to Seaton.
Scores and scorers:
Hensingham 14
Tries: Taylor Richardson, Scott Egan, Jessie Joe Parker.
Goals: Noel Braithwaite 1.
Seaton Rangers 16
Tries: JJ Key, Levi Wallbank, Ryan Heron.
Goals: Dom Smallwood 2.
Eastmoor Dragons 4
Try: Ashley Allman.
Goals: -
East Leeds 66
Tries: Luke Littlewood 2, Sam Storey 3, Shane Plunkett 3, Luke Mullen, Ben Walkin, Nathan Conroy 2.
Goals: Nathan Conroy 9.
Shaw Cross Sharks 18
Tries: Tony Ashen, Matthew West, Dec Tomlinson.
Goals: Josh Pinder 3.
Bentley 4
Try: Jarod Roach.
Goal: -
Drighlington 26
Tries: Cain Crotty, Steve McIntyre, Joe Sheldon, Lucas Hallas, Ethan Hallas.
Goals: Kieron Roche 3.
Leigh East 22
Tries: Bernard Aboagye 2, Kieron Prescott, Jamie Bond.
Goals: Ben Woods 3.
Millom 8
Tries: Niall Harris, Jonty Peters.
Goals: -
Waterhead 46
Tries: Mason Young, Jenson Hamilton, Gareth Owen, Matty Holland, Evan Campbell, Danny Murphy 2, Keegan Brennan, James Perks.
Goals: Keegan Brennan 5.
Oldham St Annes 48
Tries: James Barran 2, Sam Sykes 2, Callum Cashin, Greg Worrall, Jack Etchells 2.
Goals: James Barran 8.
Batley Boys 6
Tries: Aaron James.
Goals: Dan Winner 1.
Image credit: Ben Challis
