No margin for error as top three triumph
THE top three all won as Scunthorpe, Newport Salop and Bridgnorth remain separated by just two points, whilst fourth placed Luctonians lost ground after losing 32-22 at home to Newport.
Luctonians had led 14-3 at half-time after early tries by Auden Cheshire and Josh Watkins, but Newport hit back early in the second half with two tries to level
the scores at 17-17, with the visitors then powering to victory with two further scores to secure the bonus point.
Scunthorpe withstood a Derby fightback to claim a 23-15 victory. Nick Dyson’s try, and two penalties gave them a 13-3 lead, with Dave Garbutt’s score stretching the advantage.
However, Callum Slater and Luke Wilmott replied as Derby got back within five points, but the leaders held on. Bridgnorth were tested by bottom of the table
Syston but claimed a narrow 28-24 win.
Broadstreet and Sheffield are also within touching distance of the leading pack after both won, Broadstreet the day’s biggest winners, beating Bournville 58-31.
Sheffield left it late to beat Burton 36-30 in a game that went back and forth, three tries apiece in the first half saw Burton lead 22-19, and despite two further Sheffield tries, Burton went back ahead late, only for a sixth Sheffield try to snatch victory.
Burton claimed two bonus points in defeat however, increasing the gap over the bottom three, currently five points above Bournville, whilst Doncaster Phoenix were 43-32 winners at home to Sandbach, but are still 11 points from safety.
First half tries from Luke Rivers, Will Holling, Adam Kettle and Jacob Robinson had the bonus point secured by half-time for Phoenix. James Wright and Declan Cusack added further scores, before Sandbach rallied.
Monty Weatherby, Elliot Morris, and Kieran Allsop all crossed to take a bonus point. Friday night’s game saw
Nuneaton cruise to a 33-10 victory over Lichfield in the midtable battle, Lichfield taking an early lead, but Nuneaton were 11-5 ahead at half-time, and added three second half tries to seal the bonus-point win.