There was no hiding the relief - or the pride - on the face of Lock Lane head coach Brad Roberts after his side finally got their first Premier Division win on the board, grinding out a gritty 20–12 victory away at Wigan St Judes. It wasn’t perfect, it wasn’t calm, and it certainly wasn’t straightforward, but it meant everything.
“We started really strong,” Roberts said, still buzzing from the final whistle. “Half-time we were in a good place, but that ten minutes after the break - it rattled us. But the boys stuck at it. They defended for each other. They worked. I couldn’t ask for much more.”
The turning point came early in the second half. Judes were pushing hard, the momentum had shifted, and Lane needed something to settle the nerves. They got it. “We needed to score first - simple as that,” Roberts said. “Last week we didn’t, and it cost us. This week we did, and it calmed everything down, especially our half-backs.”
Those half-backs - Callum Butler and returning playmaker Morgan Punchard - were central to the win. Punchard, back in community rugby after years in the professional system, looked like a man who’d never left. “He’s been massive for us,” Roberts said. “He gets us around the field, he’s a character, and the lads follow him. Getting him back was huge.”
But this wasn’t a win built on one or two players. Roberts lit up when talking about his pack, especially Lewis Price, thrown in at loose forward late in the week. “He just doesn’t stop. Fittest bloke I’ve ever met,” he said.
Then there was Tom Dobson, who produced a Player of the Match performance despite having been out of rugby league for eight years. “He was huge,” Roberts said. “Three or four breaks in the first half alone. He’s only going to get better.”
The game ended with a flurry of cards - far more than the contest deserved - but Roberts took the positives. “I don’t want to see that stuff, but the lads stuck together. They’ve got each other’s backs.”
National Leagues Round Up | Round 5 – Saturday 11 April
Premier Division
Hunslet ARLFC delivered the standout result of the day, dismantling Rochdale Mayfield 52-0 to keep the pressure on leaders West Hull. With Goddard and Dodd sharing five tries between them and Heckford adding eight goals, Hunslet’s attacking rhythm was relentless as they tightened their grip on second place.
At the top, West Hull maintained their perfect start with a hard-earned 24-16 victory over Waterhead Warriors. Wilkinson’s hat-trick proved decisive as Wests overturned a half-time deficit to stay unbeaten and two points clear.
The game of the day came at Thatto Heath, where the Crusaders raced into a 30-6 half-time lead before holding off a furious Heworth fightback to win 48-38. Holroyd’s treble and Houghton’s eight goals kept Thatto in the chasing pack, level with Hunslet on eight points.
Wath Brow Hornets also remain firmly in the mix after edging a wild contest at West Bowling, winning 40-32 despite trailing 26-6 at the break. Curwen’s six goals and a spread of seven different try-scorers underlined the Hornets’ depth.
There was a crucial breakthrough at the bottom as Lock Lane claimed their first win of the season, grinding out a 20-12 victory at Wigan St Judes. Tries from Davies, Dobson, Wilson and Price lifted Lane off the foot of the table and eased early pressure after a difficult start.
Elsewhere, Siddal produced a strong second half showing to beat York Acorn 34-6, with Walsh and Greenwood each crossing twice.
Premier Division Standings:
West Hull remain perfect: 5 wins from 5.
Hunslet and Thatto Heath sit two points back on 8.
Rochdale Mayfield remain winless, while Lock Lane’s victory moves them to 2 points and off the bottom.
Division One
Dewsbury Celtic continue to set the pace with a fifth straight win, beating Egremont Rangers 34-22 to stay top on maximum points. Judge-Clarke’s double and Hirst’s five goals kept Celtic’s unbeaten run intact.
Kells remain their closest challengers after a convincing 36-12 win over Oldham St Annes, while Dewsbury Moor Maroons also moved to 8 points with a gritty 24-16 victory over Oulton Raiders.
Stanningley produced the most emphatic performance of the day, sweeping aside Wigan St Patricks 48-0 to climb into the top five. McAndrew’s brace and Phillips’ six goals highlighted a dominant display.
There were important wins for East Leeds, Shaw Cross Sharks, and Leigh Miners Rangers, while Oldham St Annes remain rooted to the bottom after a fifth straight defeat.
Division One Standings:
Dewsbury Celtic perfect on 10 points.
Kells, Dewsbury Moor, and Wigan St Patricks all sit on 8.
Oldham St Annes still searching for their first win.
CONFERENCE REGIONS
Cumbria Conference
A high-scoring round saw Barrow Island hit 70 against Maryport, while Hensingham were equally ruthless in a 62-0 shutout of Ulverston. Dalton and Seaton Rangers also posted strong wins, while Millom edged Distington 28-18.
North West Conference
Blackbrook claimed a strong 23-16 win at Ince Rose Bridge, while Crosfields, Orrell St James, and Woolston Rovers all recorded victories. Woolston’s 38-34 triumph over Leigh East was the pick of the games.
Southern Conference
Wests Warriors began their campaign in impressive form with a commanding 50-12 win over Bristol All Golds, while Eastern Rhinos defeated Brentwood Eels 22-12. Hammersmith Hill Hoists also claimed a solid 26-12 win over London Chargers.
Yorkshire A Conference
Moldgreen extended their strong start with a 42-10 win over Bradford Dudley Hill, while Mirfield Spartans, Stanley Rangers, and Beverley all picked up victories.
Yorkshire B Conference
A tight 8-8 draw between Featherstone Lions and Fryston Warriors headlined the round. Newsome Panthers impressed with a 48-12 win at Hull Dockers, while Bentley, Normanton Knights, and Skirlaugh also claimed wins.
Results:
Premier Division:
Rochdale Mayfield 0–52 Hunslet ARLFC
Thatto Heath Crusaders 48–38 Heworth
West Bowling 32–40 Wath Brow Hornets
West Hull 24–16 Waterhead Warriors
Wigan St Judes 12–20 Lock Lane
York Acorn 6–34 Siddal
Division One:
Dewsbury Celtic 34 Egremont Rangers 22
Dewsbury Moor Maroons 24 Oulton Raiders 16
East Leeds 30 Leigh Miners Rangers 10
Kells 36 Oldham St Annes 12
Shaw Cross Sharks 22 Pilkington Recs 12
Stanningley 48 Wigan St Patricks 0
CONFERENCE REGIONS
Cumbria Conference:
Barrow Island 70 Maryport 16
Dalton 52 Ellenborough Rangers 12
Distington 18 Millom 28
Hensingham 62 Ulverston 0
Seaton Rangers 48 Hindpool Tigers 12
North West Conference:
Crosfields 46 Ashton Bears 12
Ince Rose Bridge 16 Blackbrook 23
Orrell St James 30 Clock Face Miners 12
Woolston Rovers 38 Leigh East 34
Southern Conference:
Brentwood Eels 12 Eastern Rhinos 22
Wests Warriors 50 Bristol All Golds 12
Hammersmith Hill Hoists 26 London Chargers 12
Yorkshire A Conference:
King Cross Park 10 Beverley 18
Mirfield Spartans 34 Drighlington 20
Moldgreen 42 Bradford Dudley Hill 10
Stanley Rangers 36 Myton Warriors 14
Yorkshire B Conference:
Featherstone Lions 8 Fryston Warriors 8
Hull Dockers 12 Newsome Panthers 48
Kippax Welfare 10 Bentley 14
Siddal Academy 26 Normanton Knights 28
Skirlaugh 40 Milford 6
By Dave Parkinson and Ste Beech
Find out the full fixtures for the National Leagues here.
