Scunny slip throws title race wide open
THE title race took a twist after table-topping Scunthorpe suffered a surprise 32-17 defeat at Sandbach.
It was only Scunthorpe’s third loss of the season and saw their lead at the summit cut to two points by Newport (Salop).
Sandbach started strongly as Ben Elliot slotted a penalty before converting tries from Jack Leach and Georg Niehaus.
A penalty try gave the hosts a 25-0 advantage before Paul Cook got his side off the mark with a three-pointer.
Kieran Allsop went over to bag the bonus point but Scunthorpe responded with converted tries from Jacob Hardy and Dave Garbutt.
Newport took full advantage of Scunthorpe’s slip-up by running out 3110 victors over Bournville.
A penalty try and scores from Alex Haselock and Chris Berry, converted by Monty Maule, put the home side 21-0 in front.
Paul Sumner crossed and Rhys Harrhy notched five points from the tee as Bounville battled back, only for Hendry Vaka to score the decisive try for Newport and Maule rounded it off. Third-placed Luctonians are now only five points off top spot after beating Bridgnorth 45-12.
The visitors led 12-5 but Lucs hit back with Drew Cheshire scoring his second and Will Burton, Josh Watkins, John Morris and Aiden Cheshire also getting on the scoresheet.
At the other end of the table, bottom club Syston gave their survival hopes another huge boost with a 25-17 triumph at relegation rivals Derby.
Sam Reid, Alex Cavnor, Aaron Dawson and Jay Rudkin all crossed, with Laurie Harries kicking the extras, as a resurgent Syston side bagged their fourth straight win. Doncaster Phoenix moved up a place to 11th following a 43-38 victory over
Burton at Castle Park. Elsewhere, Nuneaton swept Sheffield aside in a 37-13 success at Liberty Way, while Broadstreet saw off Lichfield 28-18.
Trailing 13-0 early on, Broadstreet came storming back thanks to tries from Liam Munro, Jonny Ure and Chris Easton to lead 2113 at half-time.
Lichfield closed the gap but Ure grabbed his second and Cliffie Hodgson landed his fourth conversion to seal a classy away win.