Halifax side Siddal look like they will again be challenging for honours once more this National Conference League season after scoring eight tries on their way to their 42-16 win over Leigh Miners Rangers. For Miners Rangers, it was their fifth defeat of the season against last season's Premier Division Grand Finalists.
Miners Rangers continue to battle a lengthy injury list on their return to the top flight and with a much changed three-quarter line found themselves twenty points adrift before scoring their first points through fullback Noah Lancelot.
While the visitors themselves were forced into a late change when Sam Walsh was injured in the warm-up. Siddal got away to a blistering opening when scrum half Christian Ackroyd seared through the middle in the second minute. Three more tries followed.
Winger Oli Lewis scored after some good passing to the left saw him scramble over. Just after that, in the 14th minute, quick attack from a scrum brought a sixty-metre dash from Jacob Rushworth and eight minutes later, Lewis then raced away for his second after unselfish play from Dan and Harvey Williams.
A rare good-ball set for Miners Rangers saw then finally on the board when Lancelot's footwork saw him finish at the side of the posts but Jonny Youds conversion struck the posts and bounced the wrong side. Siddal found their groove again with Lewis scoring his hat-trick score out wide and then just a couple of minutes out from half-time, substitute Mason Scott was unstoppable to get Siddal's sixth try and Jamie Greenwood added his third goal. Miners Rangers responded with a late raid, but the defence held firm and it was 4-30 in the visitors favour at half-time.
It was a much improved effort from Leigh Miners Rangers after the interval and following a concerted spell of pressure, skipper Jack Hamer chased down his own kick to score a nicely improvised try. This time Youds converted after and it was 10-30 after 48 minutes. A third try came for the hosts on the hour when youngster Isaac Hewitt, who drew praise from boss Dave Rowland post game, supported a sparkling Lancelot break and Youds added his second goal.
Siddal finished strongly however with two tries in the last eight minutes. Firstly Harvey Williams cleverly changed direction after an over call in the defence before big Adam Horner crashed through from close range with Greenwood adding both conversions to take his tally five goals.
Elsewhere in the Premier Division, West Hull lost their unbeaten tag as West Bowling won a thriller at the Horsfall Community Stadium, while there were wins on the road for Wath Brow Hornets (at Hunslet ARLFC), Lock Lane, who inflicted Waterhead's first home loss in four seasons, and Rochdale Mayfield, who had too much for York Acorn. Sean Leicester continued his brilliant start to the year for Thatto Heath Crusaders, helping himself to 16 points as they defeated Dewsbury Moor Maroons.
Woolston Rovers won at Crosfields in Division One while Oldham St Annes crushed Oulton Raiders, Ince Rose Bridge toughed out a close result at Shaw Cross Sharks to remain top and Wigan St Judes finished on top at home to Kells, and there were thorough wins for Heworth (over Stanningley) and Wigan St Patricks (against Egremont Rangers).
A strong second half performance saw Clock Face Miners win at Thornhill Trojans while elsewhere in Division Two there were big away wins for East Leeds at Hensingham and Dewsbury Celtic at Skirlaugh. Normanton Knights had to come from behind before winning at Hull Dockers and Drighlington were too strong for Pilkington Recs. It was an altogether closer affair in Cumbria where Barrow Island just pipped Ellenborough Rangers.
In Division Three, Saddleworth Rangers continued their great start to the year as they beat Milford, while Beverley slipped to defeat against Leigh East and Keighley Albion got the better of Featherstone Lions. In another all Cumbrian affair Distington eventually eased to a win over Millom and Bentley continue their strong start to the campaign with a win over Myton Warriors.
Results (Saturday 12 April):
Premier Division
Hunslet ARLFC 12-26 Wath Brow Hornets
Leigh Miners Rangers 16-42 Siddal
Thatto Heath Crusaders 28-12 Dewsbury Moor Maroons
Waterhead Warriors 12-22 Lock Lane
West Bowling 28-26 West Hull
York Acorn 24-42 Rochdale Mayfield
Division One
Crosfields 16-22 Woolston Rovers
Oldham St Annes 58-4 Oulton Raiders
Shaw Cross Sharks 8-16 Ince Rose Bridge
Stanningley 12-36 Heworth
Wigan St Judes 21-8 Kells
Wigan St Patricks 48-4 Egremont Rangers
Division Two
Drighlington 32-10 Pilkington Recs
Ellenborough Rangers 18-20 Barrow Island
Hensingham 6-44 East Leeds
Hull Dockers 22-32 Normanton Knights
Skirlaugh 0-30 Dewsbury Celtic
Thornhill Trojans 6-26 Clock Face Miners
Division Three
Beverley 22-30 Leigh East
Distington 34-12 Millom
Keighley Albion 34-10 Featherstone Lions
Myton Warriors 14-24 Bentley
Saddleworth Rangers 46-10 Milford
There are no fixtures this weekend due to the Easter break.
By Dave Parkinson
Pictures by Dave Parkinson
