Rugby union news: Old Leeds Tykes man haunts his former side as Owen Farrell and Luke Cowan-Dickie add to Eddie Jones’ England injury worries

He opened the scoring for the visitors in the 18th minute, converting his own try for a 7-0 lead before two penalties from Tighe Maxwell-Whiteley narrowed the deficit.

The two sides traded tries in the run-up to half time, Leeds’ score coming in the 39th minute from No 8 Matt Burke while the conversion from Maxwell-Whiteley gave them the lead at half time at 13-12.

However, after the break, Bishop’s Stortford took control with two more tries to run out 27-13 winners – while claiming a bonus point.

There was no better luck for Hull either, the East Yorkshire side losing out 45-5 to continue their hunt for a first victory. They were 19-0 down before left winger Jack Edwards raced in, and it proved to be their only score of the game against a dominant and in-form Plymouth side.

Otley moved up to fourth in the National Two (North) table after a hard-fought 28-15 win over Preston Grasshoppers at Cross Green. The two sides were evenly matched through a first half which ended 13-10 to Otley, but the Yorkshire side dug in and defended well after the break to wrap up a five-try five-point win.

Right winger Blake Morgan raced in for a fourth minute try to Otley, and stand-off Edward Crossland’s 16th minute penalty put them 8-0 ahead. Preston hit back with a converted try and a penalty to take the lead, but No 8 Sam Waddington’s try a minute before the break left Otley 13-10 ahead.

Centre Clark Wells added Otley’s third try on 53 minutes, but Grasshoppers themselves scored one three minutes later to stay in touch at 18-15.

However, flanker Sam Hodge eased the pressure with a 64th-minute try, and Wells scored his second just before the whistle to wrap up the win.

Hull Ionians came away from rivals Sheffield with a 26-19 victory.

Two tries from centre Lewis Minikin and others from replacement Tyler Heelas and left wing Nathan Hill helped them to the win, while Sheffield’s tries were scored by winger Alfie Kimpton, No 8 Ryan Burrows and replacement Will Taylor.

Huddersfield bagged their first league win of the season with a 24-7 victory over fellow strugglers Blaydon at Lockwood Park. Right winger Lewis Workman scored a hat-trick of tries while the other came from full-back Tom Hodson, with Will Milner kicking two conversions.

Sheffield Tigers were narrow 16-10 winners over Harrogate with centre Jamie Broadley scoring their only try. Stand-off Mark Ireland slotted over the conversion and three penalties, while Harrogate’s try was a penalty try and Sam Fox added their only other points with a penalty.

Tries from prop Gareth Denman, second row Matt Challinor and centre Jack Taylor weren’t enough for Rotherham Titans who went down 25-17 at Sedgley Park and returned home without even a losing bonus point.

Stand-off Tom Mann’s 28th minute penalty was all Wharfedale had to show from a 43-3 drubbing at high-flying leaders Fylde.

Heath remain top of the Regional One North East table despite losing out 39-27 to second-placed Billingham. The two sides are now tied on 30 points but Heath are top on points difference.

Behind them Driffield are third but lost out narrowly 25-24 at Cleckheaton, who moved up to fifth on the back of the win. Elsewhere, Sandal won 33-26 at Scunthorpe, while York secured a morale-boosting 50-24 victory over Ilkley and Doncaster Phoenix lost out 40-12 at Alnwick and drop to eighth.

Meanwhile, Owen Farrell could face a race against time to be fit for England’s Autumn Nations Series opener against Argentina.

The Saracens captain went off midway through the second-half of his team’s 22-20 Gallagher Premiership victory over Exeter at Sandy Park.

Exeter and England hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie, meanwhile, suffered a knee injury and did not appear for the second period, handing Jones a potential headache as Saracens’ Jamie George is already out of the autumn Tests because of a foot injury.