There was more fantastic action from all four divisions of the NCL with Crosfields unbeaten in Division Two and free-scoring East Leeds continuing their great start to the season in Division Three.
Shane Plunkett notched another three tries to take his East Leeds tally to 10 while Callum Hughes had a day to remember for Ince Rose Bridge as they defeated Hull Dockers in Division One, and York Acorn also claimed a hard-fought draw against West Hull in the Premier Division, one of two drawn games in that competition and three draws across all competitions.
Premier Division
Thatto Heath Crusaders 8 Wath Brow Hornets 8
The two NCL heavyweights slugged out a low scoring draw at Close Street with neither able to break the others defence or spirit during a committed and scoreless second half.
A rematch of the 2021 Grand Final had whetted the appetite of NCL fans in the week and the game didn't disappoint despite only yielding the four tries.
Wath Brow scored the first two tries of the game and were good value for their 8-0 advantage. Morgan McCourt scored the first out in the corner for Wath Brow after 20 minutes and he was followed to the line four minutes later by fellow winger Sam Curwen following a wide ball on the last tackle.
Dave Pike took advantage of a fumble to claim Thatto's first try after a difficult Harry Reardon kick and was soon on hand again. This time Reardon fired a pass out and Pike went forty metres, beating three defenders in the process for a glorious try.
Both teams continued to give their all in the second half but there was total deadlock with a draw being a fair result.
Premier Division Scores and Scorers:
Thornhill Trojans 12
Tries: George Woodcock, Dale Brook. Goals: George Woodcock 2.
Lock Lane 68
Tries: Dan Maskill, Chris Siddons, Callum Butler, Robbie Newton, Oliver Bloomer, Lucas Moon, Danny Sowerby 2, Shaun Pick, Jack Smith, James Cranswick 2. Goals: Nathan Fozzard 10.
Leigh Miners Rangers 20
Tries: Noah Lancelott, Marco Williamson, Joe Connor, Sam Arrowsmith. Goals: Sam Pilkington 2.
Hunslet Club Parkside 32Tries: Jake Dearden 2, Jamie Fields, Ben Shulver, Harry Dodd, Omar Alrawi. Goals: Danny Rowse 4.
Rochdale Mayfield 36
Tries: James McDaid, Matty Brown, Cole Connolly, James Mulvany, Lewis Butterworth, Simon Moore. Goals: Cole Connolly 6
Egremont Rangers 26
Tries: Kristian Tyson, Sam Appleby, Fraser McNee, Aaron Turnbull, Kieran Glen. Goals: Kristian Tyson 3.
Siddal 34
Tries: Freddie Walker 2, Oliver Waite 2, Lewis Hosty, Dominic Booth. Goals: James Greenwood 5
Pilkington Recs 10
Tries: Owen Abel, Andy Morris. Goals: Kyran Knapper 1.
Thatto Heath Crusaders 8
Tries: Dave Pike 2. Goals: -
Wath Brow Hornets 8
Tries: Morgan McCourt, Sam Curwen. Goals: -
York Acorn 10
Tries: Ash Robson, Adam Lee Goals: Anthony Chilton 1
West Hull 10
Tries: Jack Ridsdill, Elliott Jones Goals: Charlie Lumb 1.
Division One
Saddleworth Rangers 6 Oulton Raiders 14
On a day where Saddleworth celebrated their history with a get together of past players and a barbecue, they also paid tribute to one of their most important figures with a poignant silence observed for Dougie Baker. Baker dedicated much of his life to Saddleworth Rangers as a player, coach and volunteer over many decades and died at the age of 88 after suffering with dementia in recent years. A player of huge frame and power, he represented Huddersfield and Salford in the professional ranks before returning to Saddleworth. His biggest legacy, is the spectator stand that he built with Pete Moore in the mid 1990s.
On the field, it was the type of close encounter that Baker would have relished and a fitting tribute, although visitors Oulton Raiders ultimately claimed the spoils.
It took 15 minutes for the first points to be registered and they went the way of the Raiders when Kieran Walpole touched down. Just before the hour, Walpole was at the double and this time half back Archie Craggs converted. It was 0-10 at half-time. The second half brough more frenetic action and Robbie Powell scored the visitors third try a couple of minutes after the resumption. Oulton were reduced to twelve men in the 52nd minute when Hope was dismissed for a high tackle, but continued to battle through.
The scoreline remained the same until the 70th minute when comeback hopes were sparked by Saddleworth. Hayden Enziano found his way to the line and Charlie McManus goaled, but the visitors held firm on their resolve to pick up an important away win.
Ince Rose Bridge 44
Tries: Tommy Shaw, Callum Hughes 4, , Peter Valentine 2, Chris Demings. Goals: Robbie Valentine 3, Daniel Hammond 3.
Hull Dockers 18
Tries: Dave Baid, Arron Pickering, Danny Patrick Goals: Danny Suddaby 3
Milford 10
Tries: Steve Bacon 2. Goals: Jake Payne 1.
Stanningley 31
Tries: Ben Selby 2, Danny Barcoe, Nathan Darby, Will Barker, Tyler Hart. Goals: Tom Flannery 3 + 1 Fg
Myton Warriors 6
Tries: Lee Waterman. Goals: Lee Waterman 1.
Kells 82
Tries: Jake Parker 2, Jack Ainley 2, Reece O'Neil 3, Dominic Wear, Ryan Watson, Will Ennis, James Ennis, Ryan Starkie, Jordan Burns, Ross Gainford. Goals: Ross Gainford 13.
Saddleworth Rangers 6
Tries: Hayden Enziano. Goals: Charlie McManus 1.
Oulton Raiders 14
Tries: Chris Hope 2, Robbie Powell. Goals: Andy Williamson 1.
Skirlaugh v Featherstone Lions - Postponed
Wigan St Patricks 22
Tries: Taylor Hyland, David Thompson, Tyler Spence 2, Joe Prior. Goals: Taylor Hyland 1
West Bowling 14
Tries: Nathaniel Light, Kieran Lupton 2. Goals: Liam Coe 1.
Division Two
Crosfields 28 Clock Face Miners 22
An entertaining local derby was only decided in the final quarter as Crosfields made it three straight wins at the start of the season.
The hosts made a rapid start, as they scored three tries inside the first twenty minutes. Aaron Holliday started scoring in the fifth minue and was soon followed by a Luke Walker double with Brad Stanway (one) and Kellen Wood (one), kicking goals to open an 16-0 advantage.
Clock Face roared back into the game with Karle Hunte and Jimmy Jones crossing within three minutes of each other and Jack Highcock converted both and added a penalty on the stroke of half-time to make it 16-14.
Impressive Jamie Abram scored five minutes after half-time for Crosfields, Wood again goaling, but Clock Face once more rallied with Ryan O'Donnell grabbing their third try with Highcock converting before the halfback nudged over his fifth goal on the hour to level at 22-22.
The telling play came after 65 minutes when Holiday got clear from a set scrum to score. Wood goaled from the touchline and Crosfields defence then saw the game home.
Bradford Dudley Hill 10
Tries: Martin Southwell, Gareth Ramsden. Goals: Neil Wall 1.
Barrow Island 24
Tries: Max Moore 3, Blain Marwood. Goals: Adam Jackson 4.
Crosfields 28
Tries: Aaron Holliday 2, Luke Walker 2, Jamie Abram. Goals: Brad Stanway 1, Kellen Wood 3.
Clock Face Miners 22
Tries: Karle Hunte, Jimmy Jones, Ryan O'Donnell. Goals: Jack Highcock 5.
Woolston Rovers 23
Tries: Dan Fearnley, Theo Holt, Adam Files, James Tarpey Goals: Ben Dixon 3 + 1 Fg.
Dewsbury Celtic 16 Tries: Charlie Senior, Lewis Teale, Oliver Thornton, Tom Norris. Goals: -
Dewsbury Moor Maroons 36
Tries: Jacob Flathers 2, George Croisdale 2, Bruce Finley, James Samme 2. Goals: Brad Foster 4.
Beverley 20
Tries: Lewis Miller 2, Francis Coggle, Josh Hamlyn. Goals: Josh Poskitt 2.
Heworth 60
Tries: Fraser West, Adam Dent, George Elliott 3, Liam Jackson 2, Liam Richmond 2, Liam Watling, Jack Earl Goals: George Elliott 8.
Wigan St Judes 0
Tries: - Goals: -
Hunslet Warriors 16
Tries: Tyler Dargan, Jordan Gale, Matthew Scott. Goals: Jordan Gale 2.
Normanton Knights 18
Tries: Luke Molloy, Adam Biscomb. Goals: Charlie Barker 3
Division Three
Shaw Cross Sharks 22 Batley Boys 16
Local bragging rights headed the way of Shaw Cross following an entertaining derby.
Shaw Cross scored five tries in all with Josh Frain the hero with two touchdowns.
A low scoring first half saw Batley Boys ahead 4-6 thanks to an Aaron James try that was goaled by Adam Bingham, this came in response to a tenth-minute opener from Sharks hooker Kian Lister. Centre Aaron Briggs extended the visitors advantage early in the second half and Mike Mould scored another, but Shaw Cross steadily built their way into the contest and Frain scored his first try after 65 minutes.
This set the hosts on their way and they finished the game superbly with three tries in the final ten minutes. Ryan Chalkley and Callum Barker picked their way to the line before Frain claimed the winner and Josh Pinder added the only goal of the game for the Sharks.
Eastmoor Dragons 20
Tries: Callum Hudson, Danny Johnson 2, Reece Nicholson. Goals: Danny Johnson 2.
Drighlington 48
Tries: Tom Pickles 2, Joe Sheldon, Kieran Roche 2, Liam Wright, Harris Brerton, Jack Richardson, Sam Thornton 2. Goals: Kieran Roche 2, Joe Sheldon 2.
East Leeds 56
Tries: Shane Plunkett 3, Ryan Wooffitt, James Forsell, Luke Littlewood, Nemia Mensiah, Andy Djukessi, Jack Thackeray, Roy Railton. Goals: Nathan Conroy 7, Luke Littlewood 1.
Seaton Rangers 6
Tries: Jordan O'Leary. Goals: Dom Smallwood 1.
Leigh East 12
Tries: Joe Digby 2. Goals: Ben Woods 2.
Bentley 12
Tries: Ryan Craswell, Shaun Richards, Marty Hall. Goals: -
Millom 28
Tries: Tyler Lancaster, Jack Proctor, Kyle Evans, Rio McQuistan, Jordan Moyes. Goals: Jonty Peters 4.
Oldham St Annes 16
Tries: Callum Fletcher, Paul Ainsworth, Craig Bennett. Goals: James Barran 2.
Shaw Cross Sharks 22
Tries: Josh Frain 2, Kian Lister, Ryan Chalkley, Callum Barker. Goals:Josh Pinder 1.
Batley Boys 16
Tries: Aaron James, Aaron Briggs, Mike Mould. Goals: Adam Bingham 2.
Waterhead Warriors 18
Tries: Terry Fitzgerald 2, Jack Pemberton. Goals: Jamie Mayall 3.
Hensingham 30
Tries: Jake Rothesay, Scott Egan 2, Nick Handley, Josh Hillier, Luke Charlton. Goals: Josh Hillier 3.
