Kirkby double sees Ilkley edge Cup tie

Left winger Mark Kirkby ran in twice to help Ilkey to victory, while flanker Neil Spence also touched down and stand-off Phil Howell kicked two penalties and two conversions.

In the Junior Vase, Baildon ran out emphatic 6-79 winners in their match at Newton Aycliffe.

Yorkshire One: Former leaders Driffield, with a game in hand, missed the chance to move back up from third to second place when they were defeated 10-0 in their rearranged match at Keighley.

After Keighley had got over the visitors’ line but were declared offside, the only score of the first half came just before the break when fly-half Alex Brown put over a penalty.

They finally broke through for a try after 27 minutes of the second half when centre Marco Serrazzano raced over and Brown converted.

Despite their win, Keighley are still in fourth place,

Knottingley saw off their struggling local rivals Castleford when they ran in the only seven tries of the match in a 43-6 home victory.

Fly-half Steve Rockett scored two of Knottingley’s tries as well as converting four out of seven.

Centre Michael Ash, full-back Brad Rowlandson, scrum-half Steven Seed and No 8 Craig Field were the other try scorers as Knottingley, 17-6 ahead at the break, took full advantage of the wind in the second half.

North Ribblesdale moved a further point clear of Castleford, and ahead of Huddersfield YMCA on scoring difference, with a losing bonus in their 11-7 home defeat by York.

Yorkshire Two: Former leaders Leodiensians turned round 14-5 ahead after playing with the wind in the first half, but were finally defeated 16-14 as visitors Wath on Dearne consolidated their third place.

Leos went ahead after 10 minutes when left winger Tim Sleight raced over for a try which, despite kicking with the wind, Jimmy Henry did well to convert from the touchline.

Then, from a strong forward drive midway through the half, No 8 Simon Worrall touched down for a second try which Henry again converted.

Leos piled on the pressure for the remainder of the first half, but Wath’s defence held tight and then, just before half time, the visitors created space for left winger Brett Small to race over in the corner.

Wath used the wind to slightly better advantage in the second half, pulling back a penalty by Ben Keen on their other wing, and Small’s second try saw then get the score back to within one point.

Keen missed the conversion but then added a final penalty to leave Leos to salvage a losing bonus which put them ahead of West Park Leeds on wins and scoring difference.

Leos had the edge in the backs, but didn’t gain sufficient possession as Wath controlled the ball better.

Selby, with a game still in hand, moved ahead of Doncaster Phoenix into the top half of the table when they scored a four-try bonus in their 22-8 win at Skipton.

Winger Ben Lunt touched down twice, while full-back Dan Porter and flanker Duncan Hardy also scored tries. Windy conditions made it a tough day for kicking, but stand-off Josh Cruise did manage to convert the last try.

For Skipton, Martin Murray touched down and Alex Naylor slotted over an early penalty, but it was not enough despite some strong defence.

Yorkshire Three: Sheffield Medicals went a step closer to their second successive promotion when they scored the only three tries of the match in a 15-6 home win over Bramley Phoenix.

Bramley took the lead with an early penalty, but the Medicals edged in front a minute before half time with a Joe Gaynor try.

Second row Thomas Piggot and flanker Alastair Shaw scored further tries in the second half.

The win still leaves Medicals eight points behind leaders Roundhegians.

Rotherham Phoenix, one place behind Medicals, also came from behind for a 23-3 home victory over Northallerton.

After Northallerton had gone ahead with a drop goal, Phoenix finally broke through for flanker Andy Stewart to score a try five minutes before the break.

Jamie Morris and John Saddington added tries, with Tom Jenkinson converting one and adding two penalties.