Sheffield grind it out to stay top of table
National League 3 Midlands
TOP dogs Sheffield and nearest rivals Nuneaton picked up victories but missed out on bonus points in wars of attrition.
Sheffield found it tough to break down a battling
Towcestrians side but led by six points at the interval courtesy of two penalties from Steve Depledge.
The welcome breakthrough came four minutes after the restart when Tobi Amemakin touched down with Andy Hodgson kicking the extras.
A 58th-minute penalty from Hodgson extended the advantage but the score then stayed at 16-0 with Sam Sturley red-carded for the visitors late on.
It was a similar tale at Liberty Way as Nuneaton were run closer than they would have liked by Bridgnorth.
Connor Nicholls shocked Nuns with a converted fourth-minute try for the visitors but a pair of Joe Wilson penalties and Elliott Brown’s try swung the pendulum and made it 11-7 at the interval.
When Umraan Jadwat got over the line seven minutes into the second half, it looked as if Nuneaton would stretch their legs but Llewellyn Williams set the nerves jangling with a converted try in added time.
There was still time for Wilson to calm things down with a penalty and in the end, Nuneaton won 21-14 to stay within two points of Sheffield at the top.
Bridgnorth, promoted last season, are three points off the drop zone.
Derby’s flagging challenge was dealt another blow by a fourth defeat in five as Lichfield boosted their hopes of remaining in the division.
Greg Massey’s 17-point haul – two tries, two conversions and a penalty – alongside Harvey Wootton’s dot-down put Lichfield in a comfortable position at Cooke Fields.
Josh Tilford and Jake Lamb led the late fightback with both tries converted by George Castledine but it was too little too late in a 22-14 reverse.
Jack Jolly’s penalty and a try for Max Rodman earned Birmingham & Solihull Bees an 8-5 victory at Old Halesonians, while bottom-of-the-table Syston claimed a shock 12-10 victory at Sandbach. Broadstreet maintained their push towards the top with a 34-24 win at Longton and Peterborough Lions overcame Bedford Athletic 30-25.