Scunny stretch advantage at summit

Midlands Premier

BRIDGNORTH moved into second place as they beat Newport Salop 20-13, whilst leaders Scunthorpe extended their cushion to four points.

Bridgnorth begun the day behind Newport in third, but tries from Ed John, Will Bishop and Haloti Molitika inflicted a first home defeat of the season on their opponents.

Scunthorpe survived a scare as bottom of the table

Syston pushed them all the way, but the leaders eventually triumphed 22-13.

After Dave Garbutt’s early try for Scunthorpe, Jay Rudkin’s try, plus a conversion and penalty saw Syston, who are yet to win this season, 10-5 ahead.

However, Sam Morgan and Eddie Newson both crossed to put Scunthorpe ahead by half-time, and Garbutt’s score sealed a bonus point in the second period.

The sides in fourth and fifth also did battle, as Luctonians moved level on points with Broadstreet after beating them 19-7 at home.

Josh Watkins’ two first half tries helped Luctonians to a 19-0 half-time advantage, and although they couldn’t add to their tally, they had enough for victory, despite Broadstreet pulling a score back late on.

The midtable battle between Nuneaton and

Bournville produced over 90 points, hosts’ Nuneaton taking the points with a 5340

win in a thrilling encounter. At the foot of the table,

Burton lifted themselves out of the bottom three after they won 29-22 at Lichfield.

After the sides traded two tries apiece, Burton grabbed a third just before the interval, two conversions stretching their lead to 19-10 at half-time, adding a bonus point after the break to seal victory, despite Lichfield crossing the whitewash twice late on to take two bonus

points themselves.

Sandbach replace them in the relegation zone after they were well beaten 31-11 by Sheffield, level on points but beneath Derby, who were beaten 46-29 at Doncaster Pheonix.

Doncaster, who remain second bottom after their 10-point deduction, ran in five tries, Jacob Robinson and Will Smith putting them 20-12 ahead, before Sam Pocklington’s second half double, and a final try from Will Holling completed victory.