Sandal now switch sights to play-offs

Durham City 21

Sandal 5

Sandal saw their faint hopes of claiming the title from Billingham disappear but they still finished in second place, a full 13 points clear of Durham.

Captain Dan McCormack put Sandal in front with an unconverted try but three penalties gave the home side a 9-5 interval lead.

Sandal had a dominant period when Durham were down to 14 men after a sin-binning but they just could not take advantage.

Instead two late tries for the home side closed out the game in style. Sandal now turn their attentions to the all-important play-offs where they will face a home tie on May 1.

Gateshead 13

Pontefract 26

Pontefract rounded off their season with a convincing win despite trailing 6-5 at half-time after winger Shane Simpson's try had been cancelled out by two penalties.

However, the second half belonged firmly to Pontefract as they ran in two further tries, another from Simpson and one by hooker Andy Smith to Gateshead's solo try. Andy Dean added a penalty, two conversions and one drop-goal to make sure of the result.

Old Brodleians 17

Darlington 66

Old Brodleians finished their season with something of a whimper, uncannily similar to their opening game when they shipped 66 against champions Billingham.

But the scoreline does not tell the full story of their season.

Finishing fourth from bottom after being promoted last time around is a result they can be more than content with, especially after playing such entertaining rugby along the way.

Against Darlington they were well in touch at half-time, trailing 17-12 with both wingers, Matty Hoyle and Aaron Fowler, scoring the tries and Ollie Ackroyd, just a day after becoming a father, kicking the conversion.

However, two quick tries for the visitors after the break seemed to put the game out of reach.

Second-row Stephen Shaw pulled a try back only for Darlington to race away again.

Old Crossleyans 11

Morpeth 17

Crossleyans found themselves outplayed in all departments although, to their credit, they fought back to make a contest of it after a shaky start.

Chris Jones kicked Crossleyans into an early lead but the opposition's dominance took them into a 14-3 advantage at the break.

Having withstood considerable pressure, Crossleyans were rewarded when centre Jack Hammond finished off an excellent handling move to score in the corner.

That completed the scoring apart from an exchange of penalties and, with one game to go, Crossleyans still have the chance to claim fourth place in the table.

Carlisle 56

Driffield 24

Driffield suffered a bruising defeat in their final match after travelling with 16 men and being reduced to 14 for more than 50 minutes.

Carlisle scored virtually from the kick-off and were 25 points up within 20 minutes and were 35-10 ahead at the break.

Driffield came back with a penalty by Lee Birch and a try by scrum-half Chris Gray which Birch converted.

When Oliver Cooper went off with an ankle injury midway through the first half, Driffield brought David Llewellyn into the second row. Then, 10 minutes before half-time, Lee Birch was forced to leave the field with an injured thumb.

Carlisle stretched their lead with two more tries but debutants wing Josh Barker and prop Andrew Fraser crossed for Driffield, Chris Bradshaw convertin both, before the hosts added another.