Hunslet Warriors vs Siddal - match report

Siddal provided themselves with some momentum going into the National Conference Premier play-offs with a 14 – 4 victory over already-relegated Hunslet Warriors.

The damage was done in the first half as Will Forsyth, Chester Butler and Richard Lopag all crossed for four pointers with Chris Brooke only converting one of them.

However, the Warriors got themselves on the board on 58 minutes when Daryl Gaunt went over in an action-less second half.

Six minutes had gone on the clock when Forsyth strolled his way over in the right corner. Brooke landed the conversion from the touchline.

Despite their relegation being confirmed two weeks ago, the Warriors weren’t willing to go down without a fight. Gary McClelland was sent racing away down field by his skipper Caldon Bravo. But a few tackles later, Lloyd Templeton was unable to touch down Gaunt’s grubber kick.

Siddal were providing the Warriors with a couple of piggybacks into their half with penalties for dissent. Eventually, referee Stephen Race placed the visitors on a team warning.

The warning calmed Siddal down and just before the half hour mark, they shifted the ball to the left and Butler slid his way over to make it 10 – 0.

The Warriors provided Siddal with some easy metres themselves when a shoulder charge brought them to Hunslet’s 20-metre line. A few tackles later, Lopag slipped his way through the Hunslet defence. Brooke failed to add the extras.

The second 40 saw little action from both outfits, and the first and only points came two minutes before the hour mark. From a seemingly unplanned move, Gaunt weaved his way to the line for four points. McClelland’s kick wasn’t academic.

Hunslet went close before time came to a halt, but a goal-line dropout was the outcome for the home side who will be aiming to make a swift return to the top flight.

Skirlaugh vs Hunslet Warriors - match report

Skirlaugh have ended Hunslet Warriors’ one-year stay in the National Conference Premier after a 38 – 0 blitz over their Yorkshire rivals.

Seven tries, including braces from Kieran Jones and Alex Foster along with a penalty goal from Ross Kemp was enough to condemn the Warriors back to division one.

Tempers flared with four minutes remaining as both sides had a player red carded along with a player each sent to the sin bin.

The home side mounted the pressure on their visitors with back-to-back sets within the first four minutes, and they were rewarded with six points as Jones collected a tip-on to score. Kemp added the extra two.

Five minutes later and the lead was stretched to 10 – 0 when Sean Wildbore sent Mike Johnson away who found his winger Foster.

Hunslet almost had two scores themselves in a ten minute spell. However, Matty Fox’s break resulted in no points and Chris Hartley was forced into touch after sprinting away down the right side.

Skirlaugh went into the dressing rooms 18 – 0 up as Kemp converted a penalty for interference and Jones doubled his try tally when he backed Joe McLocklin’s break.

The onslaught continued seven minutes after the interval with three tries in eight minutes. Matty Sheard firstly crashed over close to the posts and Shaun Painter evaded Warriors defenders to touch down.

The home side’s top try scorer, Kemp, finished a sweeping move to the left side. But, was unsuccessful in converting his own try.

34 – 0 down, Warriors’ full-back Gary McClelland had a try chalked off after Lloyd Templeton was judged to be offside in the build-up.

Four minutes from the full-time whistle saw all 26 players involved in a touchline scuffle. Referee Chris Hancock sent off Skirlaugh’s Jed Carter and Hunslet’s Jim Baker. Templeton and Jones were shown the yellow card.

Skirlaugh rounded off the scoring with the last play of the game as Johnson cut through the tiresome Warriors defence to set up Foster for his second try.

Hunslet Warriors vs Leigh Miners Rangers - match report

Leigh Miners Rangers kept tabs on a National Conference Premier title after defeating Hunslet Warriors 28 – 10 at The Oval.

The Rangers were 10 – 6 down at the break, but scored three unanswered tries in the remaining 15 minutes to pick up the two points.

The Warriors, who were buoyed after a shock win against Castleford Lock Lane last week, had their tails up within the first couple of minutes, and pinched the ball one-on-one. The Leigh side were then penalised for stripping the ball out, and Gary McClelland made it two nil.

Rangers hit back ten minutes later with a try that came from nothing. Scott O’Brien turned left and right to find an option, and eventually he found his full-back, Johnathan Youds who dived over. Youds converted his own try.

Hunslet locked the game up when Josh Murphy’s bullet pass from dummy half sent Dave Norton flying over.

Back-to-back penalties conceded by the visitors gave the Warriors a piggyback into deep Leigh territory. Jim Baker stabbed a clever kick in behind the defence on the short right side, and Lee West palmed the ball down.

10 – 6 up going into the final couple of minutes of the first half, Hunslet made Leigh work overtime in defence. Daryl Gaunt kicked downfield and Youds was pinned into his own in-goal area. The following set resulted in no further points for the hosts.

Despite the dry weather conditions, both sides were losing the ball on a few occasions. A Hunslet knock on gave Leigh Miners an attacking set, and Man of the Match Tommy Parkinson surged his way over. Youd’s extras made it 12 – 10.

With 15 to go until full-time, Leigh were awarded a penalty for a high tackle, which gave them the position to post more points. Jimmy Muir fired a pass to Sean MacDonald who broke through the Warriors defensive line to score.

MacDonald made it two tries for the afternoon and made sure of the win for the away side six minutes from time. A break from the Rangers set up the position for MacDonald to use his strength to get the ball down.

And Three minutes before the full-time whistle, Shaun Dowie’s break was backed up by Matthew Meaden for a converted try under the posts.

Northumbria vs Leeds Beckett - preview

Wednesday will see first and second in the Premier North division lock horns as Northumbria University host Leeds Beckett University.

Both sides have started the season on fire, four wins from four apiece. But, Northumbria currently occupy top spot due to a better points difference.

Leeds Beckett, who are the current champions, didn’t drop a single point last season, winning all 10 games. Coach Paul Fletcher knows his side can’t get carried away.

“It’s a very important game, but it’s still early doors. They’re probably the favourites going into this game due to them being top of the league because of their points difference.

“It’s always a tough game against them, and I'm sure it will be a great contest.”

Northumbria, who have racked up a points difference of 130, came up short last year, finishing in second place behind Wednesday’s opponents. Jason Payne, the Northumbria coach, admits that Leeds will be a difficult side to overcome.

“I've been trying for three years to try get the better of them.” He said. “We have to win the forward battle, as they've got some very good players in their pack. They also have some good halfbacks and they’re a well organised team.”

Payne has been impressed with the way his side have started the campaign, more so with the defence.

“Our biggest positive has been the number of points we’ve conceded. We’ve restricted teams in scoring, and when we do concede, we work really hard to make sure it’s the only time they do cross our line.

"It’s something we've worked really hard on and defence is going to be crucial going into this game.”

Leeds Beckett came out on top in the last encounter, winning 36 – 6 back in February this year. Despite the game being arguably the most crucial one of the season, Fletcher is relishing the task.

“We’ve got to play to our full potential in order to come away with the three points, but we are looking forward to the game.

“Starting well will put us on the front foot, and we want to maintain our unbeaten record just like they will.”

Whoever is triumphant on Wednesday afternoon will have a valuable three point lead over their league rivals. A victory that could have a bearing on who will be crowned champions of the Premier North.