Sandal survive after three sin-binnings

Sandal 25

Sandal made sure of at least a play-off spot but were made to work hard by a spirited display by Pontefract, who dominated for long periods, especially in the second half.

It was their own good spell in the opening 30 minutes that clinched things for Sandal, who are level on points with Billingham but with a game in hand. The two sides meet in a fortnight.

Sandal went 10-0 up after seven minutes thanks to a penalty from Greg Wood and a try from No 8 Sam Whittingham.

Pontefract started to take control but lost the ball and Danny Mitchell sprinted clear to put five more points on the board for the home side.

Pontefract pulled a try back before half-time through Derek Eaves with Andy Dean adding the conversion but another slip when on the attack allowed winger Tom Hodson to intercept and race the length of the pitch to touch down with Wood's conversion stretching the advantage to 22-7.

Pontefract still would not give up the chase but even when Sandal picked up three sin-bins, the visitors struggled to turn possession into tries.

After an exchange of penalties, Eaves rounded off an impressive display with his second try but Sandal's defence held firm to keep their title hopes alive.

Carlisle 24

Old Crossleyans 32

Crossleyans ran in three second-half tries to clinch victory in a hard-fought entertaining game.

They went ahead in the seventh minute when Kevin McGill took advantage of some good forward pressure to go over and Ed Cockroft added the conversion.

The home side then fought back to take a 10-7 lead but a penalty by Cockroft just before the break saw the teams turn round all square.

Carlisle went back in front with a well-taken try but then Crossleyans started to get on top. Gareth Ott jinked past three tackles for a try and Cockroft's conversion and a penalty put them 20-17 in front.

Replacement hooker Boj Semi crashed over for his first try for the first XV and James Mallard rounded off some good work by Chris James and Ott to stretch Crossleyans' advantage to 33-17.

The home side hit back with a late try but it was the visitors who came away with a deserved win.

Old Brodleians 16

Gateshead 14

Brodleians picked up an important win which moves them eight points clear of Gateshead and closer to safety.

A try from full-back Jack Moon and a conversion and penalty by scrum-half Ollie Ackroyd gave Brodleians an early lead but any hopes of using the slope and the wind to increase that were dashed when Gateshead hit back with a converted try.

A second penalty by Ackroyd saw the home side turn round six points clear but then they faced a tough 40 minutes, having to defend resolutely.

Ackroyd landed his third penalty to open a nine-point gap but with 10 minutes to go the visitors struck again and it took an enormous effort from Brodleians to hang on for the points.

Driffield 53

Ilkley 9

DRIFFIELD ran in seven tries and moved up to third.

It took a strong second half display for Driffield to sew up the win.

After full-back Lee Birch had scored and converted his own try to go 7-0 ahead, Ilkley full-back Peter Shanks kicked two penalties.

Birch and Shanks traded penalties before another from Birch and a try from outside centre Tom Wright took Driffield to a 18-9 lead at the break.

The hosts looked a different side after the break.

Stand-off Jordan McGregor and scrum-half Craig Grey touched down and had their tries converted by Birch in the first five minutes of the half.

Second-row Oliver Cooper added his name to the scoresheet with a try, and replacement winger Rob Morgan also touched down, McGregor adding the conversion before Wright's second try completed the second-half scoring.