Division Three brought another Cumbrian derby as play-off chasing Seaton Rangers took on Millom.
Seaton has caught the eye in recent days announcing that three former professional players had returned to their roots while Millom has been stringing some handy performances together of late.
Hadley Thompson got the first points of the game for Millom after four minutes with Lee Postlethwaite converting. Four minutes later it was 6-6 when Brett Symes got over the line and Dom Smallwood goaled. Jack Proctor then scored for Millom after 16 minutes before the hosts hit the front for the first time courtesy of an Aaron Postlethwaite try and Dom Smallwood goal.
There were still more twists and turns in the first half as Millom hit the lead again though Jonathan Hodgson and Postlethwaite goaled, but Seaton took an 18-16 lead on the stroke of half-time when JJ Key touched down for Smallwood's third goal.
Three Seaton tries in a ten-minute spell in the second half tipped the balance in their favour. Aaron Postlethwaite's second started things before Bill Southward and Jon Carl Bryan got in on the act, Smallwood's boot making it 34-16. The visitors' cause wasn't helped when Ethan Kelly was sinbinned on the hour for a late shoulder charge and Seaton took immediate advantage, Smalllwood kicking a penalty goal before Symes added his second try. Richard Nicholson scored the final try for the hosts in the last ten minutes and Smallwood kicked his eighth goal to make it a 48-16 success and thirty unanswered points in the second half.
Across the other divisions there were some big results. Leigh Miners Rangers completed a notable double over Pilington Recs while Thatto Heath Crusaders won at Siddal, West Hull enjoyed a big home win over Thornhill Trojans and York Acorn defeated Rochdale Mayfield in the Premier Division.
Division One saw Hull Dockers have too much for Ince Rose Bridge, Stanningley held out for victory over Myton Warriors and there were big wins for Skirlaugh and West Bowling. Wigan St Pats just edged Milford.
Barrow Island returned to winning ways with an exciting 34-30 victory over Woolston Rovers, Crosfields won at Bradford Dudley Hill, Dewsbury Celtic enjoyed a commanding win over Hunslet Warriors, Heworth accounted for Dewsbury Moor and Normanton Knights beat Beverley.
Division Three games brought wins for East Leeds, Waterhead, Bentley, Oldham St Annes and of course Seaton.
NCL Premier Division
Pilkington Recs 20 Leigh Miners Rangers 26 Recs. T – Caine, Houghton, Stevens, Brown; G – Knapper 2 Miners. T – Thomason, Pilkington, McMahon, Lancelott, O’Brien; G – Pilkington 3
Siddal 10 Thatto Heath Crusaders 16 Siddal. T – Chatterton, McCallum; G - Pogson Crusaders. T – Tracey, Leicester, Ashurst; G – Jones 2
West Hull 50 Thornhill Trojans 12 Wests. T – Ridsdill 3, Lazenby, Kingdom, Powley, Steen, Jones, Burke; G – Wilson 7 Trojans. T – Tebb, Woodcock; G – Johnson 2
York Acorn 28 Rochdale Mayfield 20 Acorn. T – Lee 3, M Chilton, Swales; G – A Chilton 4 Mayfield. T – Reid, Hamlett, D Sheridan, Green; G – Connolly 2
NCL Division One
Hull Dockers 34 Ince Rose Bridge 10 Dockers. T – D Suddaby, Milne, T Heil 2, Haynes, Bade; G – D Suddaby 5 Bridge. T – Butler, Morrison; G - Gaskell
Myton Warriors 14 Stanningley 16 Warriors. T – Douglas, Ward, L James; G – A James Stanningley. T – Wepenar, Barcoe, Henry; G – Taylor 2
Skirlaugh 32 Oulton Raiders 12 Skirlaugh. T – Gilbey, Thompson, Hurley, Sharpe, Steward, Fitzgerald; G – Gilbey 3, Puckering Raiders. T – Coleridge, Jagger, Holdsworth
West Bowling 46 Featherstone Lions 12 Wests. T – Taylor 3, Heald 2, Lumb, Williams, Milburn; G – Williams 7 Lions. T – Axe, Bell; G – M Wise 2
Wigan St Patricks 28 Milford 26 Pats. T – Thompson, Glover, Penny 2, Gannon, Kendrick; G – B Smith 2 Milford. T – Best 3, Barron, Whatmore; G – Best, Payne 2
NCL Division Two
Barrow Island 34 Woolston Rovers 30 Island. T – A Wright, Jones, Blain Marwood 3, Ford; G – Brad Marwood 4, Anderson-Moore Rovers. T – Fearnley 3, Griffiths, A Files; G – Lawton 5
Bradford Dudley Hill 12 Crosfields 24 Hill. T – Southwell, D Smith; G – Wall, Clarkson Soap. T – Stevens 3, Ditchford, Walker; G – Stanway 2
Dewsbury Celtic 38 Hunslet Warriors 6 Celtic. T – Heaton 3, Edwards, Pat Foulstone, Teale, Thornton; G – Heaton 5 Warriors. T – Bateson; G – McLelland
Dewsbury Moor Maroons 4 Heworth 18 Maroons. T - Hepworth Villagers. T – Dyson-Dent, Jackson, Chapman; G – Allen 3
Normanton Knights 28 Beverley 18 Knights. T – Jacob Crossland, Wilson, Abson, Moules, S Biscomb; G – Barker 4 Beverley. T – Miller, Coggle, Turnbull; G – Howdle 2, Dobson
NCL Division Three
Bentley 14 Batley Boys 6 Bentley. T – Marshall, Richards, Royle; G – J Craswell Boys. T – J Smith; G – Martin
Hensingham 4 East Leeds 24 Hens. T - Rothery Easts. T – Djeukessi 2, Longbottom, Wilson, B Walkin; G – Milburn 2 Oldham St Annes 60 Drighlington 0 Saints. T – McGinnity 2, Sykes 3, Etchells 2, C Cashin, Akroyd, Basnett, Barran; G – Barran 8
Seaton Rangers 48 Millom 16 Rangers. T – Symes 2, A Postlethwaite 2, Key, Southward, Bryan, Nicholson; G – Smallwood 8 Woolybacks. T – Thompson, Proctor, Hodgson; G – L Postlethwaite 2
Shaw Cross Sharks 36 Eastmoor Dragons 6 Sharks. T – Pinder, Tomlinson, P March, Ripley 2, Baines, Hartley; G – Tomlinson 3, P March Dragons. T – Powell; G - Johnson
Waterhead Warriors 40 Leigh East 10 Warriors. T – Parnaby, Bridge, Fitzgerald, Hamilton, Murphy, O’Grady, Yates 2; G – Hamilton 4 East. T – Clark, Prescott; G - Wilkinson
NCL Fixtures
Thursday 7 July 2022
Division One
- Stanningley v West Bowling
Saturday 9 July 2022
Premier Division
- Lock Lane v Leigh Miners Rangers
- Rochdale Mayfield v West Hull
- Siddal v York Acorn
- Thatto Heath Crusaders v Egremont Rangers
- Thornhill Trojans v Hunslet Club Parkside
- Wath Brow Hornets v Pilkington Recs
Division One
- Featherstone Lions v Saddleworth Rangers
- Ince Rose Bridge v Skirlaugh
- Kells v Hull Dockers
- Milford v Myton Warriors
- Oulton Raiders v Wigan St Patricks
Division Two
- Beverley v Wigan St Judes
- Clock Face Miners v Barrow Island
- Crosfields v Dewsbury Moor Maroons
- Heworth v Normanton Knights
- Hunslet Warriors v Bradford Dudley Hill
Division Three
- Batley Boys v East Leeds
- Drighlington v Eastmoor Dragons
- Leigh East v Oldham St Annes
- Millom v Bentley
- Shaw Cross Sharks v Hensingham
- Waterhead Warriors v Seaton Rangers
