Stafford and Argyle lay platform as Hull grab lifeline for survival

Joe Stafford and Max Argyle provided Hull with a great base to build the win on.

Stafford, Argyle and Lloyd Hayes crashed over before Les Day provided the highlight on the hour.

The ball passed through numerous pairs of hands before Day ran through to score one of Hull’s best tries of the season.

James Cameron beefed up the score with three conversions and two penalties.

Once again Otley waited until they were well behind – in this case by 24 points – before they raised their game at leaders Macclesfield as they lost 48-21.

Macclesfield’s pack soon showed their intentions with a powerful drive and winger Eddie Stobart broke through the middle to score.

Otley replied when winger Naziir Karim came inside to cut through to the posts for Mark Ireland to convert.

A similar move saw Stobart over, fly-half Tom Eaton converting, and he completed a hat-trick soon after.

Centre Elliot Brierly got in on the act, Eaton converting, and a powerful drive ended with No 8 Ryan Parkinson breaking off to score.

Otley began to shine, centre James White bursting through the middle, Ireland taking over to feed prop Paul Hill, who drove over, Ireland converting.

After the break, Brierley and Parkinson grabbed tries. Otley’s reply was to drive the home pack over from a line-out, scrum-half Stephen Depledge grounding and Ireland converting.

A penalty into the corner set up Parkinson for his third try, converted by Eaton.

After a scoreless first half, Harrogate raised their game to put in a workmanlike team performance and earn a comfortable 20-5 home win over Sheffield Tigers.

Tigers went offside soon after the start in difficult conditions caused by a pre-match downpour and Joe Rowntree’s penalty opened the scoring. Substitute prop Jimmy Browne then made his presence felt and Brady powered over for a converted try.

Sheffield went offside after a Harrogate counter-attack and Rowntree’s penalty extended the lead.

Tigers pressure led to Harrogate conceding a penalty inside their 22 and Nathan Smith was consigned to the bin.

Sheffield pressed but Dan Metcalfe won a crucial home turnover and drove strongly to take play away from the danger area. Bottomley broke to set up a forward drive and Aarin Yorke was in support to score.

Tigers continued to contest strongly and their efforts were rewarded when substitute prop Tom Coates crashed over.