Hodson goes in at the double as sparkling Sandal cut loose to claim revenge in style

Sandal 39

Billingham 10

Sandal gained revenge over the side that pipped them to the title last season, outplaying them for long periods and picking up a bonus point.

While the line-ups looked similar to last season, Sandal quickly imposed their superiority, running in four first-half tries including two from full-back Tom Hodson and one each from centre Danny Mitchell and fly-half Greg Wood, who also added two conversions.

Sandal quickly built on their 24-3 half-time lead and cut loose with some fine attacking rugby.

Winger Alex Orr went over with Wood converting and then adding a penalty before scrum-half Max Whittingham scurried to the line to make it 39-3.

The only disappointment for the home side was that Billingham finally breached their line but it was a minor blot on a very satisfactory display.

Middlesbrough 23

Darlington Mowden Park 29

MIDDLESBROUGH paid the price of a poor first half performance when they lost out to visitors Darlington Mowden Park at Acklam Park.

Trailing 21-10 at the break, the home side upped their game in the second period and outscored their rivals 13-8, but it was not enough to salvage victory and they had to be content with a losing bonus point.

Mowden Park opened the scoring after three minutes with fly-half Gavin Painter kicking a penalty, and he converted a try by centre Robin Eatough on 13 minutes.

Middlesbrough fly-half Simon O'Farrell kicked a penalty on 18 minutes and then converted a try from centre Robert Bellerby to level the scores, but that scoreline only lasted two minutes.

Winger Matt Lister added a second try for the visitors, and although the conversion was missed, Painter extended the lead shortly after with penalties on 29 and 40 minutes.

Middlesbrough pressured well immediately after the break, and after making good ground, O'Farrell added a 68th minute penalty. But stand-off Ritchie Young touched down for Darlington with seven minutes left. Winger Andy Micklewright added a second try for the hosts, but Painter kicked a penalty to keep Mowden Park 29-18 ahead.

Replacement second-row Lee Theakston scored a late try for Middlesbrough, but it was not quite enough to scrape the win.

Lymm 14

Beverley 9

LYMM just about deserved to win this exciting and entertaining game between two well-matched sides, who had both got their season off to winning starts.

Playing with the slope and the advantage of the blustery wind, Lymm had the better of the early exchanges but it was not until centre Mike Swetman kicked a long-range drop-goal that Lymm were able to break the deadlock after 15 minutes.

Fly-half Phil Duboulay levelled the scores with a penalty as Beverley gradually got more into the game and they began to dominate territorially, so it was against the run of play that Lymm regained the lead with a try from flanker Ollie Higginson when the home pack drove to the line from a penalty lineout.

After that, Beverley never quite recaptured their impetus and a penalty from full-back Andy Rowley in stoppage time at the interval stretched the lead to 11-3. Playing with the advantage of the conditions in the second half, Beverley clawed their way back and two penalties by Duboulay made it 11-9.

Beverley threw everything into a desperate finish but a second penalty for Rowley with the last kick of the match clinched it.

Broadstreet 21

Sheffield Tigers 19

SHEFFIELD Tigers scored three tries to two but had to be content with their first bonus point for losing by seven points or less.

Tigers made a poor start, going behind after just three minutes when Broadstreet right winger Tom Stokes raced over for a try which he converted.

It took Tigers a further 30 minutes to fight their way back into the game when prop Anthony Ross crashed over for their opening try, Joe Wright converting to level the score at

7-7 as the sides changed ends.

When Tigers had a player yellow-carded, Broadstreet edged in front with a penalty by Stokes and they increased their lead when left winger Matty Fielder went over for a try in the 52nd minute.

Stokes landed two further penalties to put the home side 21-7 in front before Tigers rallied with a try by flanker Andy Barnes.

Then, with only two minutes left on the clock, full-back John Feeley side-stepped the defence with a run straight down the middle to cross for a final try which Wright converted from in front of the posts.

Broadstreet are now in fourth place in the Midlands league, with Tigers next to bottom.

Rochdale 27

Bradford and Bingley 66

A 10-TRY haul on the road helped the Bees climb to the top of National Three North after just two games.

Winger Ash Walker began the romp with two early tries before debutant James Tyson bustled over. Richard Scull then darted through, Gavin Stead adding his fourth conversion.

A pushover try re-established the order at the start of the second half and then scrum-half Mark Gemmell dashed over.

Adam Sutcliffe added two tries with Scull completing his brace, and sandwiched in between was another pushover try for the dominant visitors.