Ionians are given helping hand to the top by tenacious Huddersfield

Excellent kicking display from Isaac Green helped them to victory.

Second-row Joe Sanders gave Ionians the lead after two minutes, and Green added a penalty.

Chester hit back with two penalties but long-range efforts from Green on 17 and 25 minutes saw Ionians extend their lead but it was 14-14 at the break.

Green then kicked three penalties and with tries coming from Chris Reakes and Adam Thomas on 66 and 70 minutes, respectively, they pulled away.

After losing to the bottom side last time out, Huddersfield restored some pride with a well-deserved 17-17 draw against Ampthill.

Ampthill opened the scoring but Dave Hall took advantage of some poor defending to go over, Chris Bell adding the conversion.

The visitors struck again but Huddersfield squared things at 12-12 at the break, Ben Mitchell touching down.

Once more the leaders grabbed the advantage but with four minutes left, winger Elliot Hodgson broke down the right to tie things up.

Broadstreet beat Hull 15-11, having scored the only try of the first half through Ben Palmer.

Twelve minutes into the second half, Hull reduced the arrears through James Kirk’s penalty but Andy Murray replied in kind for Broadstreet.

Hull were not awarded a penalty try on 62 minutes after Kirk’s 80-metre run was ended by a high tackle but Kirk kicked the penalty.

Broadstreet took a decisive lead on 67 minutes when Pierre Fere crashed over. Hull struck back after prop Tom Price finished in the corner but it was not enough.

Otley lost 14-8 at Leicester Lions after conceding two penalty tries in the first half after Stephen Depledge had kicked them ahead.

Depledge set up fly-half Tom Rock for a try after 60 minutes but Otley could not strike again.

Preston’s Reece Tomlinson was red-carded after 15 minutes and they also missed three simple penalties as Harrogate took advantage to win 27-9 at home.

Willem Enslin powered over from a driving maul after the dismissal Lewis Minnikin also crossed for Joe Rowntree to convert from the touchline.

Penalties resulted in a 15-6 scoreline at half-time.

Preston attacked strongly after the interval and kicked a penalty before Harrogate’s driving maul enabled Kerry Woody to score.

Home pressure then resulted in a converted penalty try.