Respite for sliding Wharfedale as they reach county cup semis

Cleakheaton who should be playing in National Three North next season found the National One team’s blend of experience and youth a little to hot to handle.

They competed well for the first quarter, and having scored two tries themselves, held the score to 19-10.

One further try just before half-time was a belated response to the five tries that Dale had scored. Will Davidson, Tom Davidson (2), Josh Burridge and Jimmy Bullough scored for the Greens with James Druce converting four.

Further tries in the second half came from Luke Cole, a second from Bullough and Dan Stockdale. James Druce took his tally to 14 points by converting all three.

Cleakheaton were resolute in their determination to carry on playing open rugby and they contributed to a good afternoon’s entertainment. Ryan Piercy, Martin Woodhead and Josh White crossed for Cleckheaton.

Scarborough survived a second-half fightback from Selby to win their Yorkshire Shield semi-final 36-33.

Selby have a long injury list but managed to put Scarborough under some pressure in the opening 15 minutes.

But it was Scarborough who racked up an early lead with tries from winger Harry Domett, second row Phil Watson and centre Benji Copple. With Tom Ratcliffe converting them all, Scarborough were 21 points up after half an hour.

Selby centre Alex Arthur pulled a try back just before the break and Josh Cruise converted to give his side some hope but Ratcliffe found the target again for Scarborough, tucking away a penalty on the stroke of half time.

Selby sparked into life in the second half with tries from Ben Booth and Duncan Hardy. But the killer blow came after 67 minutes when Copple scored his second and although Selby scored again through Ben Lunt and Ben Booth, it wasn’t enough.

Scarborough will now face Ilkley in the final, who needed a bit of luck to progress after facing a flying West Leeds side and winning 14-0.

It was end-to-end stuff in the first half and not at all the dull game that the 0-0 scoreline suggested.

But it wasn’t until the 61st minute that the breakthrough finally came with Ilkley’s second row Steve Burns crashing over with Josh Kimba converting.

West Leeds carried on probing for a way into the game but Ilkley scored again with JH Henry running in a try from the wing. Kimba converted to book Ilkley’s place in the final.

Northallerton defeated Halfax 17-15 in the quarter-final of the Yorkshire Silver Trophy.