Ribblesdale hold off Knottingley for title

North Ribblesdale claimed the title with a 25-8 win at Pocklington but they were chased all the way to the finishing post as Knottingley scraped an 11-9 verdict at Moortown to keep the gap between the sides to just one league point.

Had Ribblesdale been held to a draw, Knottingley would have taken the title on scoring difference.

No 8 Ryan Kirkbride scored a pushover try and Steve Moon kicked two penalties as North Ribblesdale led 11-3 at the break.

Flanker Michael Carr and centre John Moi-Moi scored after the break, Moon adding those conversions to complete the win.

Doncaster Phoenix, with a match still to play, moved up to third place ahead of both Ripon and West Park Leeds with a 28-13 home win over the Leeds side.

Phoenix quickly took control with three first-half tries – by scrum-half Ben Atkinson, full-back Chris Conway and second row Nick Byrne – to turn round 25-0 ahead before letting the visitors back in.

West Leeds moved to within one league point of their higher placed rivals, both teams still having a game to play, when they pulled off a 55-5 home victory over Leodiensians.

Goole will be relegated despite scoring a 32-10 win at Barnsley.

Tries from Malcolmson (2), Shand and Theakston helped Goole to win, and Stokes kicked three conversions and two penalties.