Morgan hat-trick helps Otley go clear

OTLEY are clear at the top of the table following a 74-5 win at home to Kirkby Lonsdale. Elliot Morgan bagged a hat-trick with Gavin Stead, Ben Waddington and Finn Dewar in for two each. Other try scorers were Eddie Crosland, Tom Cummins and Ben McGee, Joe Rowntree kicking seven conversions.

Ryan Attwood was the visitors’ sole try scorer.

Preston Grasshoppers crossed for ten tries in the Lancashire club’s 66-14 rout of Lymm. Ben Dorrington and Sam Scott both went in for a brace apiece with Matt Lamprey, Jordan Dorrington, Tyler Spence, Toby Harrison and Ben Pearson in for one each plus a penalty try. Pearson was also on song landing seven conversions.

Rossendale re-discovered the winning formula running in ten tries for a 64-7 victory at Northwich. Alex Davidson led the charge with a hat-trick, Tom Jones went in for two with others coming from Anthony Bingham, Liam Canning, Rob Willetts, Henry Wilby and Matt Ringland. Liam McGovern kicked seven conversions. Northwich did manage to get on the scoresheet through a try and conversion from Tom Husband.

It was close run at Priory Field where visitors Blackburn came out on top 30-32 over Macclesfield. Leon Simpson bagged three tries with Tom Burtonwood in for one. Josh Jarrold kicked two conversions and a penalty, with Paddy Gaffney hitting one conversion and two penalties.

Wirral squeezed out

Burnage 33-36 at Battersea Road. Alex Leung, Stuart Oldham, Ben Bodinham, Guy Fagan and Grant Connon were try scorers for the home side with Rhys Evans landing four conversions. Ben Brooks Rob Pearl, Mike Byrne, Stuart Grattan and Mike Hearn went over for the visitors with James Annetts kicking 11 points.

Alnwick were 15-24 winners away to York through tries form Ed Cuthbert, Tom Eggleston and Michael Craigs, all three converted by Evan Moir who also kicked a penalty.

Billingham kept up the challenge with a 30-48 win at Sandal. Alfie Lawson, Martin Hopley, Ben Walton, Peter Evans, Mike Walton and Anthony Jackson were the try scorers, all converted by Joe Rowntree, who also kicked two penalties. Tom Wilson, Austin Thompson, Jack Handley and Oliver Fisher crossed for Sandal with Luke Punton kicking seven points.