Blackburn edged out in battle for title

A 50-26 win at Manchester saw Blackburn finish second as Lymm took the title on points difference.

Tom Lavelle, Tom Burtonwood, with two, Josh Jarrold, with two, Connor Scrivens, Jake Foster and Tom Mayoh were try scorers for the visitors. Leon Fifield slotted three conversions and Paddy Gaffy two. Manchester got Dough Day, Greg Stewart and Tom Travis over, with Day also adding a conversion and three penalties.

Wirral completed Kirkby Lonsdale’s season of woe, beating the bottom-placed side 47-7 at Underley Park. Paul Lewis, Conner Moore, Nick Hearns, Tom Akehurst, Dan Harvey, Jacob Mitchell and Harry Clifton-Brookes were try scorers, with Harvey and Ben Brooks successful with three conversions each. Ben Lawson crossed for the home side and also kicked the conversion.

Macclesfield were 59-19 victors at home to Burnage with tries from James Cross, Sam Adu, Harry Oliver, with two, Will Davies, plus a hattrick for Harry Blackwell. Charlie Attis kicked six conversions and Davies one. It was Sam Moss’s 350th appearance for the first XV, a national record.

Northwich and Stockport fought out 17-17 draw. The home side got Harry Naylor and Andre Nell over for tries, both converted by Tom Husband, who also added a penalty. Tom Gardner, Isaac Dean and Rory Austin were try scorers for the visitors, with Ben Dearing kicking one conversion.

Rossendale beat Sandbach 38-26 to secure third spot. Brad Cave, Scott Jordan, with two, Oliver Molloy and James O’Rorke were the home try scorers, all converted by Lewis Allen, who also slotted a penalty. Following a penalty try, James Preston and Laurie Essenhigh crossed for the visitors, with Preston also successful with three first-half penalties.