Weekend Review: Otley and Huddersfield share spoils Wharfedale edge out Sheffield | No respite for Hull Ionians

Otley took the lead after just five minutes through a Joe Rowntree penalty but the visitors cancelled that out when Jonny West was successful with a kick of his own.

It was Huddersfield who went into the break ahead when second row Austen Thompson powering over with West adding the extras.

West stretched the lead after the break with another kick before Otley fought back, replacement flanker Grayson Maguire scoring a try with Rowntree levelling the scores with his conversion and a penalty minutes later.

Huddersfield hit the front once more, Lewis Workman scoring a converted try but Otley were not to be outdone, winger Mike Coady scoring five minutes from time and Rowntree’s successful conversion ensured the points were shared.

There was another all-Yorkshire clash at Abbeydale, with Wharfedale coming away 
narrow 17-10 victors over rivals Sheffield.

The visitors led throughout, winger James Tyson crossing after four minutes before three successful kicks from Tom Barrett saw Wharfedale 14-0 up after the first 20 minutes.

In difficult conditions Sheffield hit back with a try either side of the interval, but Barrett had the final say, his successful kick two minutes from time secured Wharfedale’s first win of the season, leapfrogging Sheffield at the foot of the table.

Sheffield Tigers were put to the sword at high-flying Hinckley as they fell to an emphatic 56-7 defeat, Henri Packard scoring their only try.

Hull Ionians’ woes continue as they remain at the bottom of National League One, they again came away empty handed after 46-13 loss at Blackheath.

An early Chris Bell penalty put the visitors in the game early at just 5-3 adrift, but Blackheath pulled away, Leo Fielding scoring twice with Mark Cooke and Freddie Owen also crossing for the hosts who scored seven tries.

Ionians did have some success of their own in the second half, winger Jay Heath and prop Ben Stevenson both crossing, but they have just a single point to their name after five matches.

Harrogate faced early strugglers Birkenhead Park in the North Premier league and despite a tough battle managed to condemn their opponents to a fifth straight defeat by a score 37-29.

Full-back David Doherty was a thorn in Birkenhead’s side all game and claimed a hat-trick of tries, Andrew Lawson also bagging a brace.

Other Yorkshire teams didn’t fare so well in the North Premier this weekend with Morley, Ilkley, Sandal, Pocklington and Hull all defeated.

For Sandal and Ilkley, the margins were narrow with Sandal losing 14-10 at home to Billingham and Ilkley losing out in a 27-24 battle against Rossendale, although they did take two bonus points from the loss.

Morley lost 33-10 to Wirral and Pocklington took a 50-3 thumping from Kirkby Lonsdale. Despite a spirited fightback, Hull lost 28-19 to Lymm.

They trailed 23-0 at the break but rallied in the second half, although, ultimately, it proved to be in vain.

West Leeds and Cleckheaton both had three wins from four games in North One East at the start of play but it was West Leeds that improved that record taking a 19-8 victory.

Their only try of the game came from centre Tom Jackson as Dale Breakwell kicked four penalties and a conversion to secure the points.

Malton and Norton failed in their quest to claim their third win of the season, losing 40-17 at home to Percy Park.

York and Old Brodleians are both unbeaten in Yorkshire One, with York winning 20-19 at Middlesbrough while Old Brodleians overcame hosts Selby 34-7.