Round-Up: Bonus point much deserved at 'Pool

NORTH ONE EAST

West Hartlepool 22

Pontefract came away from second-placed West Hartlepool with a deserved losing bonus point after putting in a much-improved display.

The visitors had the better of the first half but Hartlepool, who have yet to be beaten at home, took the lead with a converted try on 21 minutes. Pontefract chipped away at the score with an interception try 10 minutes later from winger Shane Simpson.

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It took only five minutes for West to extend their advantage with an unconverted try of their own to make the score 12-5, but Pontefract fought back in the latter stages. Andy Dean scored a penalty and, in injury time, fly-half Glen Boyd crossed to hand his side a deserved 15-12 interval advantage.

The game then slipped away from Pontefract after first, a converted try on 47 minutes and then a penalty on 64 minutes completed the scoring.

Driffield 37

Team Northumbria 40

Driffield, still with only one win from 10 matches, suffered yet another narrow defeat and had only two bonus points to show for their efforts.

After going ahead with an early penalty by full-back Lee Birch, Driffield increased their lead to 10-0 when Birch converted the first of their four tries by scrum-half Harvey Harding.

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Team Northumbria pulled back a penalty but Driffield went further ahead when Tom Wright touched down and Birch converted.

From being 17-3 ahead the home side turned round 24-17 down as the opposition came back with three converted tries.

Birch reduced the arrears with a try and then added a penalty to put the Woldsmen back in front at 25-24, but Rowntree added a penalty and converted McTurk's second try to put Northumbria back in front at 34-25.

The visitors managed two further penalties and despite tries by Oli Cooper and Mike Bradshaw, Driffield lost.

Cleckheaton 15

Old Crossleyans 13

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Cleckheaton returned to winning ways with a three tries to two victory, in a closely-fought contest which was ultimately decided with a touch of brilliance from scrum-half Olly Depledge.

The home side began strongly and in the fifth minute Ed Chappelow was driven over the line by his pack following a clean lineout take from Dave Freeman.

Crossleyans stand off Chris Jones reduced the arrears in the 20th minute with a penalty but Cleckheaton captain Richard Piper extended the lead five minutes before the break with a try which was unconverted.

Crossleyans hit back strongly in the second half and unconverted tries from substitute Manny Riaz and second-row Chris Wood gave the visitors a three point lead going into the last five minutes of the game but Ross Hayden finished off with an excellent score wide out for his tenth try of the season to secure the win for the home side.

Carlisle 26

Old Brodleians 18

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Old Brodleians failed to live up to the standards they have set this season against a Carlisle side that had only won three matches.

The visitors had a decent first half but were trailing 16-8 at half-time having scored a penalty from Ollie Ackroyd and an unconverted try by full-back James Marshall.

Two further tries in the second half from William Scott and scrum-half Jack Moon meant Brodleians outscored their opponents 3-2 on tries but they squandered too much possession and penalties and allowed Carlisle to rack up a winning margin.

Wheatley Hills 12

Percy Park 30

Leaders Percy Park underlined their league challenge with a 30-12 victory at third-placed Wheatley Hills in a physical game which produced three sendings-off and two yellow cards.

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Wheatley played the whole of the second half with 14 men and the last five minutes with 12 players after Gareth Burns and Craig Jeffels had been sent off. James Ponton, the Percy Park flanker, was also sent off.

The visitors had the game won in the first half, going 27-0 ahead with tries by hooker Andrew Dunn, right winger Howard Stock and scrum-half and captain John Stott.