Scunthope and Salop maintain form

SCUNTHORPE and Newport Salop maintained the pace at the top as both secured bonus point victories, Scunthorpe 31-14 winners at Lichfield.

After the sides had traded a try apiece, Luke Massey for Lichfield replying to Will Robinson’s opening score, Paul Cook’s penalty saw Scunthorpe lead 10-7 at half-time.

The leaders pulled clear after the break, a penalty try followed by scores from Nick Syddall and James Dyson before Greg Massey grabbed a late consolation.

Newport Salop remain only a point behind though, as they were dominant in beating Nuneaton 56-0.

Luctonians moved up to third, seven points behind Newport, with Drew Cheshire’s late try edging them past Sandbach 28-24.

Sandbach took an early 10-0 lead but tries from Cheshire, Guy Kirby and Rob Bengry saw Luctonians take control of proceedings by half-time.

However, in a see-saw encounter, Sandbach hit back through a penalty try and a third score saw them ahead, but Cheshire ensured Luctonians wouldn’t be denied with his late try also sealing a bonus point. They move above Bridgnorth, who were beaten 17-10 at Burton, a crucial win for the hosts who are only out of the bottom three on points difference.

That’s because

Bournville’s late comeback to beat Derby 28-27 saw Derby drop into the relegation zone.

Tries from George Castledine, Judah Simpson, Gabriel Kajdy and Charlie Barker appeared to have Derby on course for victory at 27-16 ahead with five minutes to play but Bournville crossed twice at the death, with the final conversion sealing victory. Second-bottom Doncaster Phoenix also won – beating Sheffield 24-19 – but results elsewhere still leave them still nine points adrift of safety.

Will Burdon claimed the only try of the first half as Phoenix led 10-9, but Sam Pocklington and Will Holling crossed to pull them clear, with Tobi Ademakin and Zed Richard responding for Sheffield but it wasn’t enough.

Bottom side Syston are now 23 points from safety after their latest defeat as they were comfortably beaten 17-0 by fifth-placed

Broadstreet in the day’s final game.