Clash of the leaders goes Sheffield’s way

National League 3 Midlands

LEADERS Sheffield battled back from an eight-point deficit at halftime to run riot against fellow title-chasers Old Halesonians.

The visitors, who were just a point off top spot at kick-off, began with a try from Andrew Robinson after just six minutes.

Sam Graham hit straight back for Sheffield with Steven Depledge adding the extras but the West Midlands outfit remained undeterred. Chris Hooper’s penalty nudged Old Halesonians back in front with Carl Robinson’s try, converted by Hooper, enough to hand them a solid-looking cushion at the break.

But their work was undone within ten minutes of the restart with Dan Rylance and Rupert Broadley diving over and Depledge doing the honours with the boot.

Depledge then made sure of a maximum five-point haul for Sheffield by following a successful penalty with a try which he converted himself. The match finished 31-15.

Nuneaton soared up to second thanks to a 57-17 crushing of struggling Syston at Liberty Way.

Derby slipped to third after a topsy-turvy 32-28 defeat at Bridgnorth.

Tries from Llew Williams (2), Jordan Burgess, Jimmy Gore and Ryan Smeilus were enough to overhaul efforts from Emilien Cabale and Tom Marlow in a match that Bridgnorth led 19-5 and then trailed 23-22 before eventually prevailing.

Towcestrians climbed to fifth with a 22-17 victory over Broadstreet courtesy of efforts from Matt Bodily, a double from Matt Yuill and a fourth from Pepe Nanci. At the other end, Lichfield moved off the bottom with their first win of the campaign, a 23-15 win at Birmingham & Solihull. Matt Cowley’s opener was converted by Greg Massey with the latter trading successful penalties with Max Rodman to make it 10-3 to Lichfield at halftime. The Bees hit back with tries from Chris Fensome and Nathan Tilsley to lead by five in the second half but the visitors were not done and won through Callum Turner and Josh Massey.

Elsewhere, Sandbach beat Peterborough 35-27, while Bedford Athletic registered a sixth loss out of seven, going down 41-25 at home to Longton.