Ionians keep promotion hopes alive while across town Hull edge to safety

Jack Mackie was first to score, Ben Cooper converting the first of four he kicked, but Westoe replied with skipper Gareth Nesbitt driven over and took the lead when Lomi Fa’atau intercepted, Matthew Mellish converting.

A fine cross-kick set up a try for James Twomey, Gareth Roberts replied but Twomey went in for a second.

Ollie Cicognini opened the second half with a try, followed by Ben Steele to set up a 33-17 lead and despite a late converted try from Dan Rundle, Otley were in control.

Hull Ionians boosted their promotion hopes with a hard-fought but deserved 17-11 victory at Leicester Lions.

The home side went 8-0 ahead after just four minutes with Sam Dimmick kicking a penalty and Tom Cheney touching down.

But Ionians battled back to lead at half-time with full-back Mike Bateman and No 8 Danny Hague scoring tries mid-way through the first half.

The Lions edged back in front with a penalty on 58 minutes from Gareth Collins, but it was to prove their final score. Ionians retook the lead with scrum-half Adam Thomas touching down and off-half Chris Reakes converting, and they held the lead to the end.

A second-half hat-trick from Jamie Broadley saw Sheffield Tigers get the better of Darlington Mowden Park in a pulsating game which saw three tries in the final four minutes.

Tom Outram kicked Tigers into the lead from a penalty just four minutes in and 20 minutes later, he converted from a penalty try awarded to them.

Darlington fought their way back into the game with Grant Connan crashing over and Ralph Appleby scoring to give them a half-time lead.

But the second half was the Jamie Broadley show as the No 13 scored his first four minutes after the restart. Henry Robinson and Chris McTurk struck back for Darlington but two further tries with conversions from Outram right at the death were enough to give Tigers a 31-28 victory.

Hull are almost certain of survival after beating Stockport 37-25. They showed a bit more skill in the back row as they scored freely in both halves.

Winger James Wigglesworth got Hull off the mark with a try nine minutes into the game and Greg Lound added a conversion and penalty soon after.

Dan White added another before the break as they led 17-13 at half-time. Anthony Maka crashed over twice. A late try from Jamie Clark and a James Cameron penalty saw them ease to the all-important win.

Huddersfield were unable to fight their way back from a disappointing start as they lost 43-5 at Bromsgrove.

Having shown some promising signs recently, they were bouyed by another strong forwards display.

In parts Huddersfield showed their fighting spirit and their try was testament to that attitude, replacement winger Alex Brooke capping a period of possession.