Harrogate hang on in free-scoring encounter

Dominant scrummaging and incisive back play seemed to have put them out of sight. Callum Irvine wriggled out of tackles to score on the left, Aarin Yorke squirmed through for a converted try, Jake Brady powered over, Rowntree scored an interception try and Luke Edwards and Oli Denton also scored in a rampant first half.

Preston scored five converted tries in the second half to storm back but a chargedown try by Yorke sealed the win.

Hull were denied a losing bonus, going down 29-18 to Sedgley Park as the visitors scored a late converted try.

Cook, Ben Thoy and flanker Joe Stafford touched down with a penalty by James Cameron keeping Hull in the game at 22-18. But as the game went into added time the home side were denied a bonus when substitute Matthew Lamprey crashed over from a five-metre scrum.

Sheffield Tigers lost out 31-19 to a Bromsgrove side who were stronger up front and controlled the ball well.

Stand-off Tom Outram kicked three first-half penalties and No 8 Nick Pearson and right winger Matt Neary scored tries in the second half, but Bromsgrove had too much and Tigers were left without a point.

Otley lost for the second home game in a row, going down 35-27 to Stourbridge. The visitors’ strong pack scored three tries in the first half as Otley, who scored two Mark Ireland penalties, struggled to get a foothold.

After the break, Otley scored through scrum-half James Doherty and No 8 Dan Temm picked up at a scrum to make the line, Ireland converting both but, with Temm in the sin-bin, the Stourbridge forwards forced their way over again. Otley’s pack forced a penalty try and although ‘Bridge were reduced to 14 men, Otley could not complete the comeback.