Tigers are through to play-off as Beverley condemn Boro to drop

Scunthorpe 14 Sheffield Tigers 52

SHEFFIELD Tigers lined up a play-off encounter with Chester after securing an eight-try victory over hosts Scunthorpe in their final National Three Midlands clash of the season.

The Dore Moor side overtook rivals Longton on the back of the win, drawing level on points but going above Longton by virtue of having 21 victories to their rivals’ 20. Full-back Jon Feeley opened Tigers’ account after 19 minutes with a try converted by stand-off Jonny West, and they doubled their lead six minutes later when prop Sam Lockwood touched down and West added the extras.

Feeley bagged his second two minutes before half-time and West again kicked the extra two points to put his side 21-0 ahead at the break.

He was again on target following a 47th-minute try from second-row Gregor Hayter.

Left-winger Callum MacKenzie touched down on 50 minutes, and the points kept coming with Feeley completing his hat-trick with a 55th-minute try, West converting to put Tigers 40-0 ahead.

The home side eventually got off the mark with Luiti Vaimoso scoring and Tom Alrdige converting, but there was no stopping Tigers, and when winger Gareth Morley touched down in the 65th minute they led 45-7.

A second try from stand-off Tom Foster on 67 minutes was again converted by Aldridge, but there was to be no big comeback by Scunthorpe, and Tigers wrapped up the win with John Buchanan scoring and West converting his 74th-minute score.

Beverley 33 Middlesbrough 16

BEVERLEY ensured their survival and condemned rivals Middlesbrough to relegation when they secured victory in their final National Three North match of the season.

A pair of tries from centre San Atiola underpinned the East Yorkshire side’s victory, but they had to fight hard for it against a dogged Middlesbrough side.

There was plenty of fast and open rugby from both sides, but Beverley were more incisive in the backs and eventually ran their opponents ragged with Junior Tupai and Atiola looking particularly sharp.

Middlesbrough drew first blood with centre Graham Currigan kicking a penalty after 11 minutes, and he doubled their lead with another on 25 minutes.

The first try went to Beverley through Atiola on 35 minutes, and despite Currigan’s third penalty on 38 minutes, a stoppage-time try from Tupai and conversion from full-back Phil Dale put the home side 12-9 ahead.

Atiola’s 45th-minute score and Dale’s conversion made their advantage 19-9, and they extended their lead to 26-9 with winger Chris Harding running in on 58 minutes, Dale adding the extras.

Jack Bircham raced through on the wing for Middlesbrough and Currigan converted to narrow the deficit to 26-16, but Beverley made sure of victory with scrum-half Chris Infield touching down with two minutes left, fly-half Phil Duboulay adding the conversion.

The result left Middlesbrough third bottom on 50 popints, nine behind Beverley, who finished in 10th position.

The top Yorkshire side were fourth-placed Bradford and Bingley on 73 with Sandal eighth on 68.

Stockport finished as champions with 102 points.