Round-up: Brodleians are given stern test

Old Brodleians 22

Brodleians continue to press towards the top of the table but they were made to work hard for the points by a much-improved Pontefract display.

The visitors enjoyed the better of the first half with a catch-and-drive try from captain Matty Williams and conversion and penalty from Andy Dean against a lone penalty from Ollie Ackroyd.

Brodleians picked up the pace after the break and a try from blindside flanker Andy Finn and Ackroyd's penalty edged them into an 11-10 lead.

Full-back James Marshall increased it and with further penalties taking the score to 22-13, Brodleians looked set for a comfortable victory.

But Pontefract gave them an uneasy few moments towards the end and had the last word when Michael Bateman went over.

Old Crossleyans 21

Percy Park 21

Crossleyans gained plenty of confidence after three-times coming from behind to hold high-flying Park in a game that pitted two former Leeds Carnegie players against each other in the role of player-coach.

James Pontin struck first, rounding off early Park pressure with a try but Chris Jones was soon on the scoresheet for Crossleyans, adding the conversion to a fine try that saw Lee Thomas cut in from the wing to score by the posts.

The visitors edged in front in the 28th minute but Crossleyans hit back, Jones feeding Chris Seymour, whose flicked pass saw Thomas sprint clear.

Park went 21-14 in front with a third try but Crossleyans' Jones had the final word, going over near the posts and adding the conversion to level.

Crossleyans defended heroically in the final 10 minutes.

Hartlepool Rovers 8

Wheatley Hills 29

After going behind to an early penalty, Wheatley Hills fought back with three tries to one to keep Rovers on the bottom.

Although missing a four-try bonus point for the fifth time in five wins, Wheatley are just one point below second-placed Percy Park.

Rovers full-back Liam Austwick put the home side ahead with a penalty but Wheatley edged in front when the ball went along the line for full-back Jonathan Marshall to touch down.

Guy Townsley missed the conversion but landed penalties on 27, 31 and 35 minutes before converting winger Jamie Webb's try before the break and adding another penalty soon after the restart.

Hartlepool reduced the arrears on 55 minutes when substitute prop Michael Tucker crashed over wide out but Wheatley regained the upper hand when centre Ryan Guest ran in their third try.

Wheatley were unable to claim the bonus point in the remaining 15 minutes.

Carlisle 38

Driffield 11

DRIFFIELD'S sorry start to the season continued with a fruitless 300-mile round trip after being just 12-11 down at half-time.

Carlisle scored an early pushover try, but Driffield full-back Lee Birch touched down and added two penalties before Carlisle scored by the posts before the break and ran in another four unanswered tries after it.

Durham City 17

Cleckheaton 17

A converted try in the final seconds for Durham denied the visitors a third successive victory.

Durham opened the scoring in the 14th minute with a penalty from scrum-half Lewis Groves but Cleckheaton responded with two well-taken tries from Ross Hayden and Simon Quinn, one of which was converted by Iain Gordon.

With lock Dave Freeman off the field injured, Cleckheaton's ball-winning capacity was reduced after the break.

A second try from Quinn extended the lead to 17-3 but hooker John Nichols went in for a try converted by Groves.

As the game entered stoppage time, the visitors were unable to clear, Durham ran the ball back with purpose and winger Chris Metcalfe romped over for a try with Groves converting to level.