Georgiou calms Otley nerves as Harrogate stretch champions

Full-back Christian Georgiou amassed 19 points. He kicked two early penalties before fly-half Huw Thomas replied.

The first try came when, from a lineout on the home 22, Curtis Wilson made a break before handing on to centre Michael Coady, who raced over, Georgiou landing the first of four conversions .

Centre James Barnard brought the visitors back, Thomas converting before a run by winger James Twomey created enough room for Georgiou to get in at the corner.

Nuneaton winger Stefan Cooksammy put full-back Elliott Brown over but just on half-time an inch-perfect chip by fly-half Tom Rock brought a try for Wilson.

Otley moved further ahead when Twomey left the defence flat-footed but, following a line-out, Barnard put winger Nixon Kane over, Thomas converting.

Georgiou then ran back a kick, handing on to Twomey on half-way and he did the rest.

Weakened Harrogate produced a tremendous display in losing 17-16 at champions Loughborough Students, being inspired by No 8 Ryan Peacey after Jack Latus had kicked them into a 9-0 interval lead.

Andy Hall’s penalty put the Students on the board before lock Rob Conquest drove over the line for a converted try.

Harrogate were not finished and prop Jack Bergmanas thundered over for a converted try.

Scrum-half Russell Weir eventually dummied through for a try and the conversion put the Students one point ahead.

This was the final score of the match but Harrogate continued to take the game to their much-vaunted opponents.

Hull ran in six tries on their way to a 43-16 victory at Stockport.

Stockport had the better of the first half, going ahead with a penalty and try in the first five minutes before Hull pulled back a penalty by James Cameron.

Stockport added a second penalty before the visitors came back with a try by winger Alex Piercy just on half-time.

Hull took control five minutes into the second half with one of their best tries of the season when full-back James Wigglesworth beat seven men to score, Cameron adding the conversion.

Wigglesworth went on to complete his hat-trick of tries and made another for winger Will Robinson.

Preston Grasshoppers claimed a 27-17 win at Hull Ionians.

Preston had scored a converted try within two minutes but Ionians replied with a try from a move which started on their own five-metre line with No 8 Joe Sanders taking the final pass to score.

Ionians forward pressure was rewarded when prop Steve Johnson crashed over, but Hoppers equalised and then began the second half with three tries in 10 minutes.

Sheffield Tigers were beaten by second-placed Caldy, who ran in five tries to none in a 37-9 home win. Tigers were restricted to three first-half penalties from stand-off Jonny West.

Huddersfield slipped to sixth following a 30-9 home defeat to Luctonians, who scored four tries.

Luctonians scored a converted try in the first minute and kicked two penalties. Huddersfield’s attack was limited to three penalties from Chris Johnson. At 13-9 down going into the second half, a score for the hosts was crucial, but the opposition weathered the early attacks and effectively ended the contest with two tries in seven minutes by scrum-half Brett Prior. A fourth try, converted on 72 minutes, completed the scoring.