YORKSHIRE
EAST LEEDS maintained their stranglehold on top spot, convincingly knocking off second placed MOORENDS THORNE MOOR MARAUDERS 37-6 at Easy Road.
Easts went 66 minutes before conceding their only points in an excellent all round performance.
John Carter opened the scoring for them in the eighth minute, winger Mark Greenwood doubling the lead soon after, Jordan Normington converting both efforts.
On 20 minutes, East Leeds forced a drop out and, on third tackle, hooker Jordan Godrich raced over from acting half for a try that seemed to turn the game.
Marauders showed great defensive fortitude to keep their line in tact until the 53rd minute, winger Ross Meston finally breaching it as the hosts effectively got the ball wide.
Dean Langton went in soon after, Normington goaling and Ryan Cosgrove potted a drop goal on the hour to make it 27-0.
Scrum half Dave Green nipped in soon after but Thorne Moor got their reward when prop Kevin Lake crashed over.
The final points went to Tiege O’Reilly who bagged Easts’ seventh try, Normington landing his fourth goal.
MIDLANDS
COVENTRY BEARS maintained their position at the top and need only a point from their remaining two games to secure the Minor Premiership.
They picked up their tenth win of the season with a 36-18 win over LEICESTER STORM at Tile Hill but after building a comfortable lead, they had to withstand a determined fight back from the Storm to secure the points.
Bears were in cruise mode at half time with an 18-0 lead through tries by Kurt Johnson, Scott Clendenning-Fenton and John Nichols all converted by Nathan Tilsley.
When Tilsley intercepted a wayward pass early in the second half to score between the posts and Johnson added his second try, again converted by Tilsley, Storm looked to be well beaten.
However, galvanised by two tries from George Leng and another by Jamie Muggleton, one of which Muggleton converted, Storm roared back and rocked the Bears until former Leicester loose forward Karl Wesley steadied the ship for the Bears powering over to score once again against his former club.
Storm had the last word, Jordan Connell crossing for an unconverted try but Leicester need to beat Birmingham next weekend and hope that other results go for them if they are to grab second place in the table.
BIRMINGHAM BULLDOGS recorded their second win in three meetings with BRISTOL SONICS to jump into second place in the table after an assured performance at Perry Common.
Birmingham went on the attack from the kick off and Nigel Burrows opened the scoring with a try that Danny Bancroft goaled.
Bulldogs were looking confident and extended their lead through Chris Humphrey, Bancroft adding the extras but they had to withstand some Bristol pressure and Harry Marson was held up over the line twice as the Sonics pressed to get back into the game.
However, the hosts were able to extend their lead before the break, Drew Harper being given a try by Burrows and Sam Bradley adding the extras.
The home side opened the second period strongly and had two tries on the board in the opening six minutes through Burrows and a fine solo effort from Rich Rainger, Dean Morris converting both to take them to a 30-0 lead.
Sonics began to claw their way back into the game and finally got on the board, Marson going over from close range and Dom Swann adding a good goal.
Marson then added a second in similar fashion, again improved by Swann but they were unable to make any further impression and drop to third in the table.
In a friendly fixture, GLOUCESTERSHIRE WARRIORS grabbed a morale-boosting ten try, 48-36 win over new side Wiltshire Wyverns, who showed plenty of promise in only their second ever game.
WALES
BRIDGEND BLUE BULLS gained revenge for the defeat earlier in the season by beating VALLEY COUGARS in the top of the table clash at Maesteg to take the leading spot.
Cougars almost took the lead in the fourth minute but Ryan Sadler just failed to ground the ball after good work from Kevin James.
Bridgend made them pay as Matthew Hutchings and Craig Fox combined well to send Gareth Howells over for the opening score, Howells also converting.
Soon after, Shaun Owens broke away and was stopped short but the ball was spun out to Dave Norman who then passed back to Owens who crossed between the posts, Howells again converting for a 12-0 lead.
A crunching tackle on Cougars stand off Paul Emanuelli from Andrew Fryer prevented what looked like a certain score, but moments later the Valleymen opened their account with prop Mark Jones crashing over.
Blue Bulls then had former Crusader Karl Hocking yellow carded for a high tackle and the visitors took full advantage scoring twice while he was off the pitch.
First Rhodri Morris slid over after good play from John Sanigar then Sadler made up for his earlier error with a fine solo effort, Emanuelli converting both for a 12-18 lead.
But the final ten minutes of the half belonged to Bridgend.
Fox weaved around three would-be tacklers to claim his side’s third try before Lee Sims broke away and sent Owens in for his second. In the dying seconds, a long pass from Nathan Strong found Alan Pope who raced over in the corner, Howells adding two more goals to make it 28-18 at the interval.
An excellent break from Troy Brockbank should have resulted in an early try for the Cougars in the second half but the New Zealander was left with no support.
Then good play from Bulls prop Charles Stevenson saw Fox grab a second try with Howells again converting, Liam Williams then went close for the Cougars but was denied thanks to a great tackle from Pope.
Bridgend centre Andrew Fryer, who was excellent in defence, then showed he can also score as he raced over after a break from Owens and Howells again kicked the extras to give his team a 22 point lead.
That advantage was then cut when the excellent Sadler claimed his second try but a cross field kick from Emanuelli was missed by his team mates and picked up by Bulls debutant Pope who ran the length of the field to make the game safe, Howells kick making it 46-22.
Cougars then played their best rugby in the closing stages and were rewarded with two late tries, Sadler claimed his third before Sanigar went over late on to make the final score 46-32.
For the Blue Bulls centre Fryer was awesome in defence while Owens and Fox had there best games of the summer.
For the Cougars Brockbank continued the fine form he has shown all season and Sadler fully deserved his hat-trick.
