The Fishes back up their billing in routing of Boars

NEWPORT (Salop) put themselves back in the title race after seeing off previous league leaders Bromsgrove 31-0.

Jack Wells, Sam Evans, Sam Brown, Jake Leonard and Oli Buckley all crossed the whitewash for Newport, who moved up to third just a point behind leaders Sheffield.

The table could not be tighter after nine games with seven teams separated by just eight points.

The new leaders are Sheffield who recorded their eighth win when they beat Paviors 42-19.

Scunthorpe sit second after grinding out a 24-20 win in a bruising encounter against Sandbach.

Both sides picked up injuries to their already-depleted sides with Scunthorpe just edging it.

Jacob Hardy scored a brace of tries for the visitors, while further scores came via Alastair Fagan and Josh Clarke. In reply Elliott Morris, Monty Weatherby and Kostja Vexzanovs all crossed.

Bridgnorth are also part of the leading pack of teams after recording a 26-12 win over Oudle.

Despite losing three of their opening nine, Syston are also in the title race and boosted their hopes in a 39-27 win over

Doncaster Phoenix.

Sam Harrison and Josh Brown scored two tries each for the hosts, while Joel James and Jay Rudkin also scored tries.

Fin Nockles added the extras for Syston kicking three conversions and one penalty in the victory.

The fight at the bottom is also an intriguing one.

Broadstreet landed a further blow on bottom side Nuneaton with a 2910 victory, while Burton moved three points away from the bottom three after a 27-24 win over Dudley Kingswinford.