Rampant Sandal crush Penrith to deliver statement to rivals

In all, 14 tries were scored, including braces from centre Simon Frewin and winger Alex Orr.

A powerful performance began with a try by No 8 Sam Whittingham. With 18 minutes on the clock, things were still reasonably close at 17-8 but from that point on the floodgates opened and six tries before half-time meant that the bonus point was secured inside 40 minutes.

The moment of the match came from a kick-off when, from their own 10-metre line, Sandal moved the ball around with pace and guile, using forwards to crash through and interlink with the backs before scrum-half Gareth Newman was eventually set free from 40 metres to score.

Having won at Bradford last time out, a total of nine points from 10 and this try-fest will certainly not have gone unnoticed among the league’s other hopeful challengers.

n In a game stopped twice by the referee to allow players to take on water, it was Harrogate who profited most in baking conditions, overcoming hosts Burnage 27-16.

Burnage attacked from the onset with Harrogate’s old adversary, Ross Winney, orchestrating the home midfield. However, an incisive Rob Almond counter from deep sparked a Harrogate attack, Burnage went offside and Callum Irvine’s penalty kick opened the scoring.

After Burnage went close, pressure on a home scrum led to a powerful Harrogate driving maul, Burnage again went offside and Irvine duly extended the lead.

Harrogate’s first try then seemed to have been scored, but the referee called play back for another offside and Irvine made it 9-0, althouth a Winney penalty shortly before the break reduced the margin.

In the second half, Burnage attempted a forward drive out of defence but were penalised for holding and Irvine’s kick made it 12-3. A dazzling Pete Wackett midfield break was well supported by his fellow centre, Kyle Dench, but a high tackle prevented a seemingly certain try. Another Irvine kick extended the lead.

Winney struck again to make it 15-6, before Harrogate enjoyed a steady stream of possession.

Eventually, Harrogate stole a defensive home lineout, the ball was spun left and Almond scored the game’s first try.

Winney just about kept Burnage in the game before Wackett was nicely set up to dart through for a converted try.

Adam Knight’s converted try reduced the arrears, but Harrogate hung on for a deserved win.

n Bradford & Bingley came away from Billingham with plenty to work on as they lost 48-15.

After 15 minutes played the home side had already run in three tries with Andy Evans, Anthony Hyndman and William Turnbull all going over, two of which were concerted by Peter Evans.

Richard Tafa was then sin-binned, but it brought about a Bees try when Benny Greaves went over. Tom Bills’s penalty made it 19-8 before Evans replied in kind for the home side shortly before the break.

After the restart, the home side rattled in four further scores, the first coming six minutes in when Evans went over. He was joined on the scoresheet by substitute Danny Finney, who crossed twice, and then by his brother Andy.

Avoiding the half century seemed the only way the Bees could save face as the game entered the final stages, but in a final flourish Tafa ended his day’s work with a fine individual effort converted by Tom Bills.