More drama as Gate leave it late yet again

Jake Brady scored from a catch and drive before a Mike Aspinall cross kick was gathered by Oli Denton for a try in the corner.

Max Lewis powered over for another Harrogate try before a smartly-taken Aspinall drop goal extended the lead.

Sam Lowthian began the fightback for Rossendale when he outstripped the defence to score but they then had Sam Greenwood sent off. But the hosts played with the slope in the second half and came back so strongly that Danny Collins’s try with five minutes left actually put Rossendale ahead.

However, Tim Heaton struck back with a well-deserved try and the conversion edged Harrogate ahead. An injury time Rowntree penalty sealed the win.

For the third week in a row the outcome of a Bradford and Bingley fixture hung on a crucial decision around the scrum.

With 10 minutes left the Bees trailed Penrith 44-39 but as the scrum crumpled in on itself as they threatened a try, the referee singled out Penrith prop Craig Rumney and sent him to the sin bin.

Penrith had exhausted their supply of front row capable players so the game went to uncontested scrums thereby depriving the Bees of their primary attacking weapon and they eventually lost 57-42.

Sandal were beaten 40-16 at Chester after a below-par first-half performance left them playing catch-up rugby.

Greg Wood kept them in touch with three early penalties but the sin-binning of full-back Tom Coad proved crucial as in that time, Chester were able to fashion two converted tries and lead 21-9 going into the second half.

Prop Ash Norbury went over and fly-half Wood converted as Sandal finished the game looking to make amends after the contest had slipped away from them at the start of the second half.

Despite handling the ball well, they spurned three try-scoring opportunities in the final quarter and it was Chester who had the final word with a late try.