Weekend Review: Rowntree excels for Otley | Wharfedale denied | Sheffield Tigers smashed by Sale | Hull Ionians' woes continue

Otley made it back-to-back wins in National Two North, running out 31-16 winners at home to Chester.
Josh Burridge scored a try against Luctonians but it couldn't prevent defeat for Wharfedale.Josh Burridge scored a try against Luctonians but it couldn't prevent defeat for Wharfedale.
Josh Burridge scored a try against Luctonians but it couldn't prevent defeat for Wharfedale.

Both sides opened their accounts with victories the previous weekend, and it was the visitors who made the early running with the first try of the match before scrum-half Joe Rowntree went over for Otley, adding the extras himself.

Rowntree had a good day with the boot, kicking a penalty before a converted score from winger Paul Petchey gave the hosts the lead.

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That lead was extended before the break, outside centre Jack Mackie crossing with Rowntree again successful with the conversion.

David Ford went over to give the visitors a lifeline but prop Jason Moss’s try, Rowntree adding the extras, gave Otley an impressive bonus-point win.

Sheffield Tigers lost 52-15 against a rampant Sale side.

A single penalty from Mark Ireland was all the visitors had to show for their first-half efforts as they trailed 26-3. Luke James was the star of the show for Sale running in a hat-trick.

Ryan Holmes got his name on the Tigers scoresheet early in the second half but in poor conditions the tries kept coming for Sale, a try for the visitors with the last play of the game proving little consolation.

Wharfedale lost 26-14 at Luctonians.

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The hosts held the lead throughout and although a first-half try from Josh Burridge and two penalties from Robbie Davidson brought the visitors to within bonus point range at one stage, it was not to be for Wharfedale.

Huddersfield narrowly lost 
26-25 at Tynedale, while Sheffield lost out 38-17 at home against Stourbridge.

Hull Ionians’ disappointing start to their National League One campaign continued when they fell to a 38-24 defeat at Birmingham Moseley in Friday night’s game.

An early penalty by Isaac Green gave Ionians the lead, but that was as good as it got as they found themselves 12-3 down at half-time.

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John Allott was sin-binned for dissent just before the break, and the hosts pressed home the man-advantage with scores from Huw Taylor and Buster Lawrence.

Sam Wilson’s brace and Steve Slingsby’s try saw Ionians fight back but the effort was in vain as they were reduced to 14 men for a second time.

Birmingham again cashed in, Chris Brightwell scoring his second of the night, to send Ionians home empty-handed with three straight losses at the start of the season.

Hull and Preston Grasshoppers remain unbeaten in the North Premier division after they played out a tense 
10-10 draw.

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Hull led 10-0 at the break, winger Steve Hiheta scoring in the opening minute and No 8 Joe Stafford crossing 15 minutes later.

Preston dominated the second-half, Paul Miles and Connor Truman going over to rescue the draw.

Pocklington made do with a 22-22 draw at Birkenhead Park with scrum-half Ben Rees, centre Ben Thoy and prop Chris Morton scoring their tries.

Ilkley beat visitors Kirkby Lonsdale 21-7 to make it three wins in a row, but Morley were beaten 47-8 at Billingham with Tomas Phipps scoring their only try.

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Harrogate lost at Wirral 
51-28, while Sandal were beaten at home by Lymm, 46-5.

There was late drama in North One East as West Leeds grabbed a 16-15 victory at Driffield.

Full-back Kier Breakwell and winger Danny Booth had gone over to give the visitors a half-time lead, but Driffield led 15-13 with the 80 minutes up.

However, 10 minutes over the allotted time, West Leeds fly-half Dale Breakwell kicked a penalty from near the halfway line to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat and end Driffield’s 100 per cent start to the season.

Malton and Norton were 28-22 winners at Huddersfield YMCA, while Cleckheaton were 28-26 winners against Bridlington.