Street capitalise on Nuneaton’s slip-up

National League 3 Midlands

BROADSTREET took over at the top of the table after they picked up a bonus point in a 49-34 victory over

Longton, as previous leaders Nuneaton were beaten at Bridgnorth.

With Sheffield also taking all five points, winning away to Towcestrians, the top three are now separated by just three points with four games to play.

At home to relegationthreatened Longton, Broadstreet raced out of the traps and had secured the bonus point with four tries inside the opening 15 minutes.

Lee Chapman, John Boss and Chris Idehen completed the hosts’ scoring, despite finishing with only 13 men on the field, whilst Longton kept fighting to secure a bonus point of their own. Bridgnorth had come into the day a place outside the bottom three but stunned Nuneaton 21-8. Warren Harding and Connor Nicholl notched first-half tries, before Gareth Bladen’s secondhalf score sealed victory.

Sheffield were pushed all the way at Towcestrians, the home side also claiming a try-bonus point in a 27-24 loss, as James Hale impressed with a brace of tries, but it was Sheffield who came away with the narrow victory. Peterborough Lions meanwhile remain in touching distance of the top three after taking all five points in a narrow 28-24

win at second bottom Bedford Athletic.

In the battle to avoid the final relegation place, currently occupied by Longton who are four points from safety, Bridgnorth were joined in a crucial win by a determined Lichfield, who beat Derby 24-20.

Two early tries saw Lichfield take a 17-5 advantage, only for Derby to level but the visitors hit back with a decisive fourth try to claim the win and a crucial bonus point. Sandbach are now the side looking over their shoulder in 11th after they were held to a 20-20 draw against the bottom club

Syston, who face near-certain relegation as they sit 18 points from safety with only 20 to play for.

The day’s other game saw Birmingham and Solihull Bees turn round a 13-point deficit to beat Old Halesonians 30-13. Chris Goddard, Zane Raimondi and Jack Jolly all grabbed tries to complete what was a spectacular comeback.