Grasshoppers extend lead at summit

WITH four of this weekend’s games being called off due to inclement weather, Preston

Grasshoppers increased their lead at the top of the table to 11 points following a bonus point 38-5 win at home to Billingham.

Sam Stott, backing up a break by Scott Jordan, went in for the first. Peter Altham claimed the second, driven over from close range, and with Jake Squirrel adding the conversion, Hoppers went in at the interval 12-0 ahead.

In the second half, Matt Lamprey burst his way through from outside the opposition 22 for the third also converted by Squirrel with the No.8 also in for the bonus point try this time off a forward drive.

The home side added further tries from Ryan Purcell and Ali Murray both converted by Squirrel. Sandal got much the better of Pocklington 43-21 at Feathers Field. The visitors took the early lead with two tries from Jack Townsend but the home side battled away and from a break by Feriti Soloa, Euan Walker went in for his side’s first try. Walker added a second this time off a rolling maul, both converted by Greg Wood.

Sandal came back through tries from Steve Nolson, James Ellar, Will Morecambe and Jamie Heron, as well as an 80metre break away from Dom Fawcett, Wood slotting a further two conversions.

In the closing minutes Pocklington managed to get Christian Pollock over for a try on his debut, all tries converted by Jonty Peters.

In the final game of the day it was heartbreak for

Birkenhead Park who went north hunting for what would have been their second win of the season but came up just short, going down 22-20 away at Kendal.

The visitors opened with a penalty from Dave Hall but tries from Glenn Weightman and Jacob Sutton, also converted by Weightman, allowed the Cumbrian side to go in 12-3 ahead at half-time.

In the second period Nathan Woof extended the lead with a try converted by Weightman, before Birkenhead Park came back strongly with tries from Chris McNoe, Adam Wellington and Ollie Wharton, Hall adding one conversion.