Paul has got Scunthorpe Cooking on top
Midlands Premier
SCUNTHORPE won the battle of the top two, beating Newport Salop 25-19 to move clear at the summit, whilst Bridgnorth moved up to second, a point behind.
Newport travelled to Scunthorpe with the pair locked on points at the start of the day.
But it was the hosts who controlled the game, Paul Cook crossing twice in the first half as they led 12-7.
Nick Dyson extended their lead after the break, and despite Newport pulling a try back, Cook sealed victory with two penalties.
It was only a second defeat of the season for Newport, but Bridgnorth took advantage to leap above them as they swatted aside Doncaster Phoenix, 43-5, with a dominant second-half display.
Afeafe Haisila’s first half try saw them edge 10-5 ahead, but after the interval they stormed to a bonus point win.
Llew Williams, Callum Madden and Luis Evitt all got on the scoresheet.
Luctonians remain in fourth, despite falling to a 26-7 defeat at Sheffield.
Three penalties gave Sheffield a 9-0 lead in a tight first half, but after a fourth penalty, Quentin Laulu-Togaga’e and Sean Casey’s tries secured the win, Luctonians crossing for their try late on.
Sheffield and Luctonians both sit in a congested midtable,
with five teams who have all won four of their opening seven, including
Broadstreet who were held to a 17-17 draw at Derby.
After an opening Derby penalty, Broadstreet claimed the only try of the first half, holding a slender 5-3 interval lead.
McGrath van Wyk’s try edged Derby ahead but two tries saw Broadstreet ahead, although the second wasn’t converted
That allowed van Wyk to earn Derby a draw as he
converted his own try late on.
Sandbach and Nuneaton shared over a point a minute in a thrilling contest, Sandbach coming out 46-41 winners, whilst Bournville also racked up the tries in their dramatic 49-27 win over Lichfield. Syston remain without a win after their seventh defeat, 42-20 at the hands of
Burton, but have moved off the bottom of the table after Doncaster Phoenix’s ten point deduction.