Birmingham come alive to claim victory

BILLINGHAM beat Wirral 22-10, brightening up after a dull opening half in which they led 10-0 through a try from Kieren Clark, converted by Peter Evans, who also slotted a penalty.

The second half was much more of a contest, with Mark Gidman crossing for the visitors and Chris Speed adding the extras, but further tries from Liam King, converted by Evans, and Ben Walker sealed the win, despite a late try for Wirral from Chris Cowley, Speed added the conversion.

It was a high scoring game at Crow Trees, where Blaydon won 52-32 against last season’s relegated side Macclesfield, with both sides’ taking a try bonus point.

Dan Marshall claimed three tries for the home side, with star man Ryan Foreman crossing for two but also adding six conversions. Alex Clark, Keith Laughlin and Sweed Harrison were the other try scorers. James Oliver, Pete Milne, Tom King and Walter Mendoza crossed for the visitors, with Will Davies slotting two conversions and a penalty.

Harrogate were 37-7 winners away at Ilkley through a hat-trick from Dave Doherty, two from Sam Perry and one from Sam Brady. Sam Fox was successful with three conversions.

Lymm were 24-19 victors over newcomers

Blackburn. Cormack Nolan, Alfie Simpson, Joe Senior, both up from last season’s colts, and James Kimber, with the bonus point, were the home try scorers. Nolan also kicked two conversions.

In the ‘new boys’ match,

Carlisle ran out 36-12 winners at Morpeth. Joe Anderson, Yousef Sahiv, Dan Holmes, Ben Puerdhem, Thomas Graham and James Telford were try scorers for the visitors, with Chris Auld landing one conversion and Telford two.

Rossendale enjoyed a five try 36-10 win at home to Alnwick. Tom Bedlow, Curtis Strong, Damon Hall, Sam Greenwood and Kieron Allen were the try

scorers, with Lewis Allen successful with four conversions and a penalty.

In the final game of the round, Sandal ran out 3512 winners at home to Kirkby Lonsdale.

James Ellar, Tom Allott, with two, and Elliott Thompson were the try scorers, with Luke Punton kicking two conversions and three penalties and a final conversion coming from Ellar.

The visitors, who were unable to get over the Sandal line, had to be content with four penalties from Mike Fearon.