Winner-takes-all contest looms after Sandal maintain their grip

The visitors held a one-point lead over Sale and knew a win was key to maintaining momentum going into the winner-takes-all contest at Heywood Road in the final game of the season.

Sandal ran in three first-half tries through centre Dave Martin, prop Rob Norbury and centre Joe Allott, along with two conversions and a penalty by fly-half Mark Pease.

After the break, the priority was a fourth try to claim the bonus point and ensure holding top spot for the final game.

Allott’s second try made sure that objective was achieved and Sandal finished things off with tries by No 8 Sam Whittingham and hooker Jamie Heron.

Morley managed three tries at Billingham but lost 31-15 in their penultimate game.

The Maroons had seen prop Ben Bell and centre Bradley Marshall break the defensive line during the first quarter and at the halfway stage they were only two points behind at 12-10.

However, three second-half tries from the hosts put them in the driving seat and full-back Luke Stevenson’s try was a consolation.

Henry Packard, Mark Ireland and Adam Shaw scored two tries each as Sheffield Tigers ripped into Lymm to take a 61-15 win.

The opening stages were even but after half-an-hour, the floodgates opened and Tigers broke through to score freely.

Jonathan Buchanan, Liam Wallace and Josh Redfern also managed to crash over with Tom Outram adding the rest of the points with his boot. Tigers have won 11 games in a row.

Beverley’s home season ended with a 90-12 defeat at the hands of Huddersfield YMCA, who ran in 14 tries, 10 of them converted.

Huddersfield led 47-7 at half- time through tries by Sam Hodgkinson, Adam Ryder (2), Gavin Stead, Simon Wilson, and Tom Bullock (2) with six conversions by Stead.

A try by Alex Smith converted by Ryan Murray had put Beverley briefly in contention but in the second half Huddersfield ran in a further seven tries through Ryder (3), Tom Wood, Stead, Wilson and Ed Barber.

Beverley’s only further score was a try by Dave Brant.

Cleckheaton scored seven tries and at times played some flowing rugby in a 41-22 win at already relegated Westoe.

James Wilson got the first with a sprint in under the sticks. Alex Dawson then barged his way over for Cleck’s second, both tries converted by Ross Hayden.

Martin Woodhead and Hayden secured the bonus point before the break. Tries for Jack Bickerdike, Alex Dawson and Brad Marsden were reward for an increased tempo in the second half.