Moody try bonus as Morley fall – Greene hat-trick in Hull romp

Morley 27 Kendal 36

The pressure towards the lower end of the table remains on Morley after going down to defeat to a side just above them.

Morley made a poor start, conceding 10 points in the first seven minutes but they fought back to take the lead, firstly through a try by flanker Sam Mularkey and then a converted score from flank partner Tom Moody.

They extended their advantage to 17-10 with a try from the No 8 Craig Field, only to then go in at half-time trailing after conceding three consecutive penalties in the last 10 minutes of the first half.

After the break, Morley came back again with a penalty from Simon Bradshaw, only to lose the lead once more to a second converted try on 47 minutes.

On the hour mark, the home side hit back again with Moody scoring his second try to make sure of at least a losing bonus-point and Bradshaw converted.

Only seven minutes later, though, Kendal retook the lead with a penalty, making the score 29-27 and when they added a third converted try in the final 10 minutes, there was no way back for the hosts.

Westoe 20 Huddersfield 14

Huddersfield earned a bonus-point in a hard-fought forwards battle at second-placed Westoe.

The hosts made the better start and had Huddersfield on the back foot, steadily amassing a 15-0 lead. However, the visitors steadied the ship and fought their way back into the match thanks to a try from left winger Simon Pratt, who was put over when Chris Johnson took on a break down the left-hand side before offloading to Pratt.

Johnson added a penalty before the half-time interval to make the midway score 15-8 and after the break, Johnson pulled his side within four points with another penalty.

The game remained on a knife-edge until the final 10 minutes. With seven minutes to go, Westoe made sure they were more than a converted score in front when they crossed to touch down for a pushover try.

Huddersfield pressed to get something out the game and they were duly rewarded in the dying moments when a penalty was given and Johnson opted to take the points to make sure of the losing bonus point.

Manchester 5 Hull 54

Hull put in a solid shift against bottom club Manchester to come away with the points after a professional second-half display.

James Greene scored an early try as he made the extra man in the overlap from a lineout and James Cameron converted.

Hull did not score again until 20 minutes in when winger Will Robinson embarked on a run up the left from his own half, finishing between the posts before Cameron’s conversion.

Three minutes before the break, Hull’s scrum in the left corner was distributed quickly by Cameron across the line until winger Alex Piercy had the overlap to run in.

Max Lewis scored the bonus point try soon after the break before James Greene scored his second try. Cameron successfully converted both tries.

Cameron then picked out Alex Piercy’s run with a lofted kick to the corner that the winger took after a nice bounce before finishing and Cameron converted.

Manchester scored a nicely worked try through captain Danny Carlton before Greene completed his hat-trick and Guy Martinson scored in stoppage time.

Hull Ionians 25 Leicester Lions 24

A MAGNIFICENT performance from the Ionians pack earned them victory over promotion-chasing Lions.

Had Ionians’ kicking been on form, seven attempts on goal were missed, three in front of the posts, the score would have reflected their dominance.

Jon Boden kicked an early penalty but Ionians came straight back and good forward work made ground and a long pass from James Ferguson set up Sam Wilson to race over.

Ionians then dominated first half possession and Lions were put on the back foot.

Joe Sanders made ground and a quick penalty saw Adam Thomas held short but Tom Rice burrowed over.

To close the half, another quick penalty was again stopped at the line but Ferguson’s chip saw Gary Stephenson dive in to score.

Lions were much more lively after the break and a simple charge-down saw Gerhard Boshoff kick ahead and a cruel bounce evaded the cover for Boshoff to score.

Ionians came straight back and Stephenson made ground on the wing, kept the ball in play and Adam Thomas raced away for the bonus point try.

Lions finally drove over Junior Fagalilo drove over but a second yellow card for killing the ball gave Ionians an attacking line-out and Oli Marns crossed between the posts – even that conversion kick was charged down.

Lions came back and Marc Howgate powered over, Boden adding all three conversions to keep the scores close, but Ionians closed out the game.

Preston G’Hoppers 28 Harrogate 29

HARROGATE conceded a penalty try in stoppage time but held on for a thrilling victory after having looked in command and having suffered five blood-bin replacements.

Harrogate’s record-breaking try scorer Jamie Broadley outstripped the defence for the opening try and Mike Aspinall, celebrating his birthday and 100th game for Harrogate, converted.

Harrogate’s next try resulted from a strike against the head at a Preston scrum. No 8 Ryan Peacey broke and slipped the ball to Aspinall, who scored in the corner.

Ed Smithies then recovered an apparent fumble and put in an inspired cross-kick which enabled Sam Bottomley to score in the corner.

Hoppers, whose handling had let them down, mounted an attack and centre Tom Hughes, burst through to score andRussell Flynn’s conversion made it 17-7 at half-time.

Preston then put Harrogate under pressure with driving mauls and a forward surge resulted in a converted try for second-row Wayne Steel.

More Preston pressure followed but an attack broke down when they knocked on near the Harrogate line and Aspinall snapped up the loose ball and outstripped the cover for a length of the field try.

Scrum-half Phil Wickham then set up a backs move which created space for Bottomley, who sent Broadley through to score and Aspinal to convert.

Hoppers took a quick penalty from which Matt Hughes scored a converted try and deep into stoppage-time, the hosts drove from an attacking scrum and a penalty try was awarded against Harrogate for “standing up.” The conversion cut the gap to a point but there was no more scoring.