Peterborough look play-off bound

Midlands Premier

PETERBOROUGH Lions strengthened their hold on the play-off places as three tries in the final twelve minutes saw them overcomes third placed Newport Salop 22-3.

A penalty apiece saw the scores locked at 3-3 at halftime, and neither side could add to their tally under the 68th minute.

The turning point saw Newport’s Will Roach sinbinned and the Lions instantly struck, Niko Moa with the first try, quickly followed by Chris Humphries’ score.

Tom Gulland adding the third late on, as Peterborough moved 15 points clear of Newport in second, but Salop do have two games in hand.

Scunthorpe and Nuneaton are one and two points respectively further back after both had comprehensive wins, Scunthorpe shutting out Derby in a 29-0 win.

Three first half tries put Scunthorpe in control, leading 22-0 at the interval, but it took until the final five minutes to secure the bonus-point try, with the only score of the second half.

Nuneaton meanwhile had a regulation win over Old Halesonians, beating the bottom side 50-10.

Leaders Birmingham and Solihull Bees made it 16 out of 16 as they cruised past struggling Longton 220. Steven Johns’ early try proved to be the only one of the first half, but the conversion and penalty gave Bees a 10-0 interval lead and further tries from Max Rodman and Harry O’Brien sealed victory.

At the bottom of the table the two sides just outside the relegation zone met, with Bournville beating Lichfield 30-14 to jump two points above them.

Lichfield’s cushion remains seven points above Longton, who have two games in hand however, whilst Newbold on Avon gave themselves hope of avoiding the drop as they picked up only their fourth win of the season.

They edged a tight encounter at Sandbach 2319, but are still ten points adrift - however the momentum is with them after this victory.

The day’s remaining contest saw Bridgnorth beat Doncaster Phoenix 30-5, the damage coming in the first half as the bonus point was secured at 25-0, with a fifth score added after the break in the comprehensive win.