Relegation fears eased for Tigers after narrow win over high-flying Sedgley

It was only the Tigers’ third league win of the season and helped move them out of the drop zone, partly at the expense of Hull who went down 37-17 at home to leaders Macclesfield.

Tigers went ahead after four minutes through winger Rupert Broadley, although Tom Outram missed the conversion from out wide. Sedgley were 9-5 ahead by the break after three penalties, but the home side hit back in the second half.

They edged in front on 60 minutes when David Bradford capped a spell of pressure on the Sedgley line after Tigers had driven on from a line-out.

The visitors equalised with another penalty, but the crucial score for Tigers came in the 76th minute when Outram landed a penalty to clinch the win.

Hull’s relegations worries intensified with their defeat to Macclesfield, who led 6-3 after an keenly-fought first half.

Jamie Barnard and Jesse Bright scored tries for Hull and James Cameron converted both to add to his penalty.

But Macclesfield were particularly devastating in their counter rucking. Hull were soon overrun as their opponents went on to notch five tries.

Harrogate raced into an early 10-0 lead against Luctonians and it proved to be crucial as they held on for a welcome 18-15 win.

After building early pressure, Callum Irvine split the visitors’ defence to go over the line with Joe Rowntree converting for 7-0 before adding an 18th-minute penalty.

But the visitors rallied and, by the half hour mark were 12-10 ahead thanks to tries from Christopher Condliffe and Jimmy Norris, the first score being converted by Will Burton.

Harrogate continued to attack at every opportunity but the visitors held their lead at the break. held on to their narrow lead for the rest of the half.

A 50th-minute penalty from Burton extended Luctonians’ lead following a Harrogate offside and their increasing forward control led to Harrogate’s talented backs having to live off scraps.

But in the 68th minute, Harrogate got the breakthorugh their efforts deserved, another fine Irvine break was supported by Sam Bottomley, who beat the defence to level the scores.

A Luctonians offside gave Rowntree the opportunity to kick a penalty which put Harrogate ahead, eventually confirming a hard-fought win.

Otley enjoyed a magnificent 60-7 win at bottom club Dudley Kingswinford, registering 53 of their points before the struggling hosts eventually got on the board.

Mark Ireland led the way for the visitors, racking up 25 points which included a try, a penalty and seven conversions.

Jack Mackie began the rout in the seventh minute, with Stephen Depledge, Paul Hill (2) and Alexander Beaumont also going over the line before the break.

It got no easier for the hosts in the second period, with Jonathan Stannard and Nazir Karim also going for tries, with Ireland providing a fitting ending with a converted try of his own.