Dewsbury Moor Maroons and Ince Rose Bridge played their final league fixture of the National Conference League Division One campaign on Saturday and in a game that neither side wanted to lose, the hosts came out on top.
The first half was a scoreless affair, despite Ince having a chance to take the lead in the seventh minute with a penalty. Unfortunately for Mason Fillingham, he put the goal attempt wide.
Rose Bridge were temporarily reduced to twelve players after 21 minutes when winger Jack Heaton was sinbinned for dangerous contact in a tackle. Defence was certainly on top and the visitors resisted with Dewsbury Moor frustrated at kicking long after losing possession close to the line a couple of times. Ince Rose Bridge had two chances, first when Peter Valentine dashed forty metres in support of Byron Aspinall and later in the half Heaton was halted close after a lofted ball from Morrison.
The second half improved, and both teams were far more attack-minded. The hosts took the lead seven minutes into the new half when the all-action Mitchell Gray went over under the posts, holding three defenders off in the process. Louie Walker goaled and while the visitors attack continued to stutter despite the best efforts of fullback Jamie Malone, prop Morrison and substitute Tommy Porter.
In addition to Gray, James Samme added something going forward or the hosts and hooker Ryan Crossley was in good form. Valentine was shown a yellow card for dangerous contact, pursuing a kick through and in his absence, Moor took more of a stranglehold on the attacking position. Just after his return from the sin-bin, Moor took the ball right and a powerful finish from Jake Butterfield took him past four defenders.
The game came alive in the last ten minutes when the visitors got themselves on the board when TJ Boyd grabbed a well-taken try on the left after switching to a wide position and Porter goaled. Crossley cut a frustrated figure when he said something out of turn to the touch judge and he was dispatched to the sinbin.
This didn't deter Moor who finished the game strongly with two tries. The first went the way of busy Brad Foster who dived over from dummy half and scrum-half Harry Hartley slipped through the defence in the last minute to confirm an 18-6 success.
Ince Rose Bridge hung on to third spot by a points difference of just three ahead of Moor and both will have home ties in the Division One play-off semi-finals with Bridge hosting Crosfields and Dewsbury Moor taking on Oulton Raiders.
Elsewhere in Division One, there were last-day wins for Stanningley, Hull Dockers and Clock Face Miners, with Miners' midweek heroics against Wigan St Patricks and a good win at Skirlaugh also coming to nothing thanks to Stanningley's better point difference and an excellent performance by them in beating Leigh Miners Rangers. Hull Dockers will also go down to League Two next season despite accounting for Crosfields with a brilliant away performance.
At the same time, Oulton moved into fifth after their win over Wigan St Patricks and Waterhead completed the season with their 19th victory, this final cherry on the cake being achieved at Woolston.
In the Premier Division, Siddal qualified for their first Grand Final since 2017 thanks to a 22-6 success over West Hull who will host Hunslet ARLFC after they won through 23-10 at a packed Rochdale Mayfield.
Oldham St Annes celebrated their second successive promotion. They will line up in Division One next season alongside Wigan St Judes and Shaw Cross Sharks after winning 22-12 at Dewsbury Celtic while Drighlington go into Division Two on the back of a hard-fought 17-10 win at Distington, joining East Leeds and Hensingham in the third tier next year.
By Dave Parkinson
