Boro and Beverley in relegation showdown

A five-point victory should be enough for Middlesbrough to avoid the drop and send Beverley down instead. Middlesbrough were only 14-11 down at half-time before succumbing to the superior strength and attacking play of Stockport.

Simon Moore kicked two penalties and scrum-half Peter Wright touched down for Boro in the first half. Moore added a third penalty and second-row Neil Young touched down after the break.

Sandal rounded off their campaign with a solid win over third-placed Rossendale to finish in mid-table.

Sandal scored four tries to lead 26-14 at the break.

Fly-half Greg Wood started off the scoring before winger Dave Ell, playing his final game before retiring, showed a touch of the old magic to add to Sandal’s advantage. Scrum-half Gareth Newman also grabbed one before Sandal were awarded a penalty try, full-back Tom Hodson slotting the kick to add to his other two successful attempts.

In the second half, Sandal cut out the mistakes which had led to Rossendale’s two converted first-half-tries, adding two further scores with none in reply.

Hodson grabbed his side’s fifth and converted before winger Dave Martin rounded things off.

Sheffield Tigers, with a game in hand over champions Bromsgrove and second-placed Longton, fought from behind for their 20th win of the Midlands campaign and need five points at Scunthorpe on Saturday to progress to the play-offs.

Tigers were 20-7 behind early in the second half on Saturday but tries from Johnny West and Richard Joel helped them move 21-20 ahead.

Back-row replacement Frank Wragg then crashed over to ensure a bonus point for Tigers, whose fifth try came from Jon Feeley.