Sandal allow Penrith to share the points

Sandal were below par for much of the first half despite taking a 7-0 lead with a converted try from fly-half Greg Wood. Penrith hit back to lead 10-7 with a penalty and converted try before a second touchdown extended their advantage to eight points.

Wood’s penalty just before the break brought Sandal back and they took a 17-15 lead by doing the simple things well, forcing pressure on Penrith with phase after phase before eventually moving the ball down the short side for winger Alex Orr to use his pace to score.

Wood converted the try and, with 10 minutes remaining, a drop goal extended the narrow advantage.

However, in the dying seconds a chipped clearance out of defence was run back by Penrith and an overlap allowed them to get away and score in the corner, with the conversion attempt thankfully dropping short.

Billingham were left to rue a last-gasp missed penalty as Bradford & Bingley ran out narrow 21-20 winners.

Billingham took an early lead through Joe Evans’s penalty and converted try before Ryan Wederell hit back for the home side.

A William Turnbull try was converted by Evans, who also added another penalty to make it 20-7 to the visitors after only 20 minutes.

That was how it stayed until the second half, which the Bees dominated and, on the hour, their pressure was rewarded as Brett Mitchell ploughed over, with Richard Scull tacking on the extras.

And it was Scull who proved to be the hero for the home side, when he converted his own late try which – thanks to Billingham’s late penalty miss – was enough to secure victory.

Harrogate overcame initial stubborn resistance from visitors Burnage to run out comfortable 34-9 winners.

First-half tries from Pete Wackett and Sam Bottomley gave the home side the edge at the break, with further efforts coming from Tim Heaton, Bottomley and Callum Irvine, who kicked a total of 14 points