Hull and Harrogate denied late on as Fylde lay bogey to rest

NATIONAL TWO NORTH

Luctonians 23

Hull 20

YOUNG winger John Morris kicked a last-gasp drop goal from 40 metres to consign Hull to defeat.

The home side started strongly but after missing an early penalty, they conceded the first points when Hull centre James Greene crossed wide out.

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Lucs struck back to take the lead in the 10th minute when second-row Dan Smith raced through a gap created by centre Greg Summers to score between the posts.

Morris added the conversion but Hull retook the lead with a close-range score from scrum-half Oliver Hardisty. Cameron slotted the conversion but Morris converted one of two penalties to make it 12-10 before the influential Summers departed with a knee injury.

Hull lost second-row Dan Cook to the sin-bin before Lucs took the lead with another try from Smith.

Morris's conversion fell wide and the lead changed hands when Hull winger Alex Piercy darted over in the corner.

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Lucs took the lead once again when a surging blindside run from prop Anthony Marfell saw him cross.

Morris dragged his conversion wide but Lucs still held a 20-17 lead at the break.

The game descended into a stalemate and Hull lost another player, Chris Murphy, to the sin- bin before they drew level with a 74th minute penalty from Cameron.

Morris missed a penalty and the game looked to be heading for a draw until Morris struck.

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In spite of leading for much of the game, Harrogate failed to even register a bonus point against a side that had never won at Claro Road.

Harrogate made a dream start as recycled ball gave Kyle Dench space from which he made an incisive break and a reverse pass released co-centre Jamie Broadley for a try by the posts which was converted by Mike Aspinall.

Fylde showed their forwards' strength with a succession of driving mauls from penalties and centre Mike Waywell, kicked a penalty before converting his own try.

Broadley and Ed Smithies wasted chances before Aspinall's penalty evened the scores.

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His cross-kick was then gathered by winger Noel Minniken, whose pass enabled Dan Harland to send Alex Rieder crashing over in the corner. Aspinall's touchline conversion put Harrogate into a 17-10 lead.

Fylde flanker Steven McGinnis cut the deficit before Aspinall struck a penalty after the referee ruled out what appeared a fine try.

Fylde stand-off Richard Kenyon supported his forwards and was driven over and injury to Broadley, who was replaced on 63 minutes, reduced Harrogate's attacking potential.

When an attempted clearance went into touch on the full, McGinnis set up the first phase and finished off with a try from a maul.

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Harrogate were denied a bonus point when Fylde's man of the match, Dan Waller, backed up a break by Oliver Brennand to score the game's final try.

Hull Ionians 68

Rugby Lions 20

Hull Ionians' team work saw them run in 10 tries for the second week running to claim another good victory but a game young Rugby Lions team competed much better after the break and deserved their three tries in reply.

The Lions were first on the scoreboard with a penalty by Alex Stajka but the power of the home pack soon had the Lions on the back foot and Joe Makin was driven over.

An attacking lineout was driven 20 metres to the line finally ending in a quick free-kick with Mark Wigham diving in.

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The next attacking lineout saw strong running finished by Steve Slingsby and, on 30 minutes, Adam Thomas darted in for the bonus point, James Ferguson adding all four conversions before limping off.

Straight from the restart Oli Marns raced in from 70 metres out, Dan Porter converting before replacement Andy Barrass squeezed over to lead 40-3 at the break.

The Lions showed more life and outstanding back Aaron Higgins made an interception and raced 80 metres before winger Craig Dowsett crossed, Stajka converting.

Ionians responded and Adam Thomas broke for a solo try.

Lions hit back through prop Ben Nuttall but Ionians scored further tries through Joe Makin, Adam Thomas and Rob Kench, Porter converting all four second half tries. The final move saw Lions flanker Liam Munro cross.

Leicester Lions 23

Huddersfield 13

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Huddersfield recovered from a disastrous first half but could not do enough to overcome the Lions.

Looking a shadow of their normal selves, error-ridden Huddersfield shipped 23 points without reply in the first 40 minutes.

But they rolled up their sleeves after the break and looked a different side, imposing their own game plan on the home side.

Tries for winger James Wood, substitute centre Lee Paxman and a penalty by fly-half Chris Johnson all helped to restore some pride and they will take the positives of what was a much-improved second-half performance into the home game against Nuneaton.

Morley 9

Loughborough 20

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Despite going down to a third successive defeat, Morley can take some consolation from the closeness of the game against the league leaders.

Loughborough have been brushing teams aside with plenty of points in the bag but it was Morley who led at the end of a hard-fought first half, Charlie Spon-Smith landing two penalties to put them 6-3 in front.

Loughborough crossed early in the second half but a thirdpenalty from Spon-Smith penalty edged Morley into a 9-8 lead.

But the visitors were having more of the possession and pinning Morley back and they finally go their reward with two tries.

However, there was enough in this performance to boost Morley as they prepare to tackle bottom of the table Manchester.

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