Northwich given an early reality check

MACCLESFIELD’S 0-90 win away to newcomers Northwich will have set the pulses racing.

The visitors crossed for a total of 14 tries, which included hattricks for Harry Oliver and Myles Hall. Other try scorers were Peter Milne, Sam Broster, Lloyd Coates with two, Aaron Williams, Danny Martin, Joe Oliver and Alex Davies, who also slotted eight conversions, with Martin adding one.

Preston Grasshoppers went down 29-5 away to Otley. It was 17-0 at the interval through tries from Ben McGee and Marcus Law both converted by Calum Irvine to add to an opening penalty. Jacob Brown got a late consolation try.

A high-scoring game gave visitors Sandal a 3750 win away to Burnage.

It was 16-19 at the break via a try for the hosts from Alex Brook, with Rhys Evans successful with a conversion.

In the second period, Burnage took the lead through tries from Joe Wrigley and James Odder both converted by Evans, but four more tries from the Yorkshiremen plus three conversions and a penalty clinched the win, although the home side came back to claim a bonus-point try via James Clark.

Alnwick and Billingham fought out a 9-9 draw, with three penalties each from Evan Moir for the home side and Jobe Roxby in reply.

York beat Kirkby Lonsdale 50-0. Sam Elliott and Liam Hessay bagged doubles, with tries elsewhere from Ross White, Rob Hodges, Shane Goulding and Sam Forbes, while Declan Cusack was on target with five conversions.

Wirral were 35-24 winners at home to Blackburn. Mike Byrne, Tom Cole, James Reeve and Chris Crowley were the home scorers, with James Annetts hitting three conversions and three penalties. All the visitors points came in the second period via James Brookes, Jake Foster and Paddy Gaffney, who added a conversion.

Rossendale were 39-22 victors at home to Lymm, Danny Rylance with two, Tom Cole, Jack Wilkinson and Tom Bedlow were try scorers, with Liam McGovern slotting four conversions and two penalties.