Round-Up: Wheatley seeking bonus-point habit

Northern 5

Wheatley Hills 26

WHEATLEY Hills are now just one point away from taking the league leadership after securing a five-point victory over hosts Northern on Saturday.

Although they are the only unbeaten side in the league, the Doncaster outfit are still second because of their failure to regularly secure bonus points. At Northern they did score four tries – but left it late.

Guy Townsley kicked Wheatley into an early lead before winged Ryan Guest crashed

Northern narrowed the gap when Dominic Fawcett scored his side's only try but Guest touched down a minute before the break to put Wheatley in command. Townsley's second penalty came four minutes after play resumed, but they had to wait another half hour for scrum-half Ian Barker to touch down, before flanker Craig Jeffels secured a bonus point at the death.

Durham City 20

Driffield 17

DRIFFIELD turned in an improved performance but were left still chasing their first victory.

The East Yorkshire side were 17-10 ahead with half an hour remaining, but could not hold on as the hosts battled back to take the points and leave Driffield with just a losing bonus.

Peter Dent got the home side off to a cracking start with an early try, but Driffield pressed well and, after full-back Lee Birch missed a penalty, he made amends with a try and conversion. Scrum-half Craig Gray touched down under the posts after a good build up and Birch added the conversion to put his side ahead. Groves and Birch exhanged penalties before Howard Johnson touched down and Groves converted to clinch the comeback.

Old Brodleians 7

West Hartlepool 5

Jack Moon grabbed a try five minutes from time to give Brodleians a deserved win over the league leaders.

A tight, entertaining match saw Brods defend valiantly against a heavy wind in the first hal to go in level with the scores blank, only for them to concede an unconverted try straight from the restart.

They were finally rewarded when Moon chipped ahead, gathered and dived over. Ollie Ackroyd held his nerve to land the vital conversion.

Old Crossleyans 36

Northumbria 30

Crossleyans withstood a late flurry to win an exciting match against a side who have been scoring points for fun.

Northumbria crossed after only three minutes but Chris Jones steadied the ship with a try he converted himself.

The advantage was stretched with a well-worked move down the left with full-back Chris Seymour linking up to put Leigh Thomas over. The visitors hit back with a penalty and two more tries but their lack of discipline was costing them points and Jones landed three penalties to see the sides turn round level.

The steady boot of Jones added six and when he also landed the conversion to a try by Joe Baker, Crossleyans looked home and dry. But Northumbria mounted a huge last quarter effort forcing Crossleyans back. They went over and added a penalty in added time but Crossleyans hung on.

Morpeth 12

Cleckheaton 22

From a poor start this second successive bonus point victory means that Cleckheaton are now undefeated in five matches.

Captain Richard Piper drove them ahead and after Matty Jinks had put Morpeth ahead with all their points, Dave Harrison sent his troops out to steal victory with tries from replacement Jonno Marshall, Matt Piper and a second for twin brother Richard.

Pontefract ran out of steam in the second half as Percy Park claimed a 68-24 win in what had been, until then, a tight encounter. Michael Bateman, Simon Fletcher and Nick Dykes all scored tries as Pontefract matched their opponents before the hosts eventually took charge. Andy Dean kicked nine points.