Swatkins try-blitz stuns Waterloo as Tigers open up the floodgates

The floodgates opened and a hat-trick of tries from full-back Peter Swatkins in the space of 10 minutes set Tigers on their way.

All three were converted by stand-off Mark Ireland, who converted further tries from hooker Mitch Binney, No 8 Max Allen and winger Jamie Broadley to give Tigers a 42-0 half-time lead.

Waterloo scored first in the second half from a rolling maul, but Ireland converted when Allen crossed for his second. Wingers Jamie Broadley and Henri Packard both crossed well out for Tigers before Waterloo scored their second try.

Tom Outram took over the kicking and converted Packard’s second try, Swatkins’s fourth and another by Liam Wallace.

A losing bonus in a 14-12 home defeat by second-placed Wirral kept Hull ahead of Sheffield, who were held to a 14-14 draw at Ilkley.

No 8 Joe Stafford touched down in the 13th minute for Hull but Wirral’s Ryan Stead crossed from a catch and drive, James Annetts landing the conversion.

Four minutes before half-time Hull were awarded a penalty try when Wirral collapsed a scrum, Josh Bragman’s conversion giving the home side a 12-7 interval lead.

In the 74th minute, Adam Seldon raced over for a try to level and Annetts converted.

A reinvigorated Ilkley fought back from two tries down against fifth-placed Sheffield.

Ilkley, on the back of three successive victories, made a disappointing start allowing Sheffield to build a 14-0 lead.

Ilkley hit back in the second half, full-back JH Johnson scoring in the corner. The comeback was complete when centre Steve Nolson raced through to score a second which was also converted.

Huddersfield YMCA almost let a huge half-time advantage slip before claiming a 35-29 home success over 10th-placed Stockport.

The hosts, without a win in their last three games and sitting in 12th position, used the conditions well in the first half and led 24-3.

Stockport came back after the break and forced YM on to the back foot, ultimately scoring 29 points in the process. YM kept the scoreboard ticking over with a try from winger Adam Ryder and penalties which proved to be enough to take the win.

Cleckheaton claimed a bonus point but are back in the relegation zone after a 40-25 defeat at Billingham.

Mark Barlow’s try and Ronan Evans’s penalty saw them trail 19-8 at the break

The hosts moved 40-8 ahead before Richard Piper guided the ball to the line three times to grind out a bonus point.