YORKSHIRE
LEEDS AKKIES consolidated their play off position with comfortable 52-16 victory at BARNSLEY BRONCOS.
Akkies opened their account in the forth minute when Matt Brocksom put German international Kristian Kleinhost in at the corner.
Centre Chris Martin then crossed for the first of his personal haul of four tries to give Akkies an early 8-0 lead.
Fortune favoured Barnsley when a kick rebounded off the post and allowed them to go over for a converted try to bring them back into the game at 8-6.
Jason Muranka was soon in at the corner for Akkies, though, and further tries from James Flynn and two more from Martin, helped them to 30-6 interval lead.
Aging halfback Graeme Sarjeant stepped his way over to extend Akkies advantage soon after the break, however Barnsley valiantly fought back to close the gap to 16-36 going into the final quarter.
Leeds resumed full control and after Tom Varley fell agonisingly short, Martin powered over for his fourth four-pointer.
Richard Fenty and Oldridge then added further tries with Oldridge capping a fine display by converting from the touchline with his sixth goal.
Akkies complete their league programme at home to Bradford Victoria next weekend and look set on a collision course to play South Leeds rivals Parkside Hawks in a play off derby clash the following Saturday.
MIDLANDS
BIRMINGHAM BULLDOGS ‘A’ fought out an absorbingly tense 20-all draw with NOTTINGHAM OUTLAWS SECONDS.
Falling behind to an early converted try, Brum responded with a touchdown from right centre Jack Edwards.
The visitors forced a goal line drop out and, on the back of it, another converted try put them ahead 12-4 at the break.
A great start to the second half saw stand-off Travis McIntyre touch down for Bulldogs, the excellent Danny Norton adding the goal.
A terrific up-and-under from Joe Madden then caused an Outlaws defender to collide with a post and Madden dived on the loose ball for a try which Norton converted to make it 16-12 to Brum.
Outlaws regained the lead with a converted try from a power play after the fifth tackle, only for Bulldogs to respond with a try for debutant winger Adam Conniff to make it 20-18 for the hosts.
In a dramatic end, a late penalty for Outlaws levelled it at 20 points all, which was a fair result and one that should ensure Birmingham ‘A’ a playoff place while the Outlaws are are a point behind the leaders.
NORTH WEST
MANCUNIANS and WIGAN RIVERSIDERS EELS shared the spoils after a 16-all draw.
The hosts made a great start, Mark Davies forcing the ball free in the tackle with a big hit and, from the resulting scrum, Mancunians managed to stretch the line enough for Neil Shackcloth to pick his way through to touch down.
Instead of settling into a steady pattern, a crucial mistake from the home side when the ball went to ground allowed the Riversiders to crash over to equal the scores.
Mancunians took advantage of a series of with newcomer Jack Snoddy catching the eye once again with his great footwork and dazzling pace.
Tom Gaughan edged Mancunians back in front, combining with half backs Shackcloth and Mike Webster to step round a defender.
Riversiders spurned a try when they had already crossed the line and a game saving tackle on a breakaway attacker moments later by Matt Wade kept Mancunians in the game.
Shackcloth then showed his prowess at the other end, a sublime dummy on his own 40 metre line saw the field open up in front of him and he cantered clear to give Mancunians the lead with only six minutes remaining.
The home side attempted to add an extra point with a drop goal from immediately in front of the posts, but Riversiders hit back with a try out wide to level the scores in the final minute.
WALES
DYFFRYN DEVILS maintained their unbeaten home record when they beat league leaders TORFAEN TIGERS 40-20 at Penybanc.
Torfaen remain top of the Championship but this win means that Dyffryn, NPT Steelers and Tydfil Wildcats are all in joint second place with just points difference separating them.
Devils scored first with some aggressive running breaking down the Tigers defence which resulted in Simon Stornham crashing over, Chris Davies converting.
From the kick off, Devils capitalised on the first play with a try from Callum Steele who broke one tackle and took another defender over the line between the posts, Davies again converting.
Tigers hit back with a quick try before pint-sized stand off Davies grabbed an interception to go in by the posts and convert.
The second half saw both sides play quality rugby in monsoon conditions exchanging two tries apiece.
Winger Steffan Jones crossed for a well worked Devils try slicing through the defence and Dan Roberts scored a typical 60 metre touchdown using his pace before Torfaen responded but it was too little too late.
SOUTH EAST
SUSSEX MERLINS showed their Jekyll and Hyde characteristics as they crashed to inform GUILDFORD GIANTS, 58-10.
Last week Merlins enjoyed a 40-point romp over Oxford.
This week winger Stu Phillips was the man to put them to the sword, running in five tries as Guildford confirmed their play-off credentials while Merlins will have to look on from the outside.
Even the introduction of former Oldham and London Crusaders professional Jericho Sunfire could not spark the Hove club.
Merlins kept it tight for the opening 15 minutes before Giants struck first with centre Tom Rankin crossing.
From the restart, second rower Sam Fletcher doubled the advantage but Merlins hit back when prop Josh Gunn crashed over between the sticks.
Guildford took in a 24-10 advantage at half-time and Merlins Coach James Szymik said: "At half-time we talked about how we could get back into the game by doing the things that had worked so well for us all season.
“We were getting hammered by their line speed and by attacking back in behind the ruck.”
Unfortunately we just weren’t at the races today, maybe in the knowledge that we couldn’t make the play offs, a target we set at the beginning of the season. I think the second half reflected that."
Guildford ran in 34 unanswered points after the break to seal a comprehensive victory.
EAST
Despite being down to twelve men, ST IVES ROOSTERS heroically hung on to defeat BEDFORD TIGERS, who just lost their unbeaten home record, going down 34-30 in a tense, thrilling derby.
A close fought victory was not guaranteed until the final whistle as the Tigers threw everything they had at the Roosters line but it held firm.
Strong running by the Peel Brothers – Sam and Adam - troubled the Tigers all match, with Sam Richbell and Paul Ryder returning the favour for Bedford.
Ultimately the Tigers rued spilling the ball twice with the line at their mercy.
The Bedford scorers centre Ollie Francis, his wing partner Scott Aspinall, veteran hooker Andy Champ with a brace and scrum half Paul Ryder with Rob Ashton kicking five goals.
NORTH EAST
A 30-point unanswered blitz from the 53rd minute – including four tries in nine minutes - left SUNDERLAND NISSAN stunned as JARROW VIKINGS built up for the play offs.
Sunderland had been in the contest up until then, hitting back from 16-0 down.
Outstanding hooker Ben Wilcock, John Coutts – who ended with 20 points from a try and eight goals – and Liam Hurst all went over in the opening quarter for Vikings.
Wingers Craig Oglubode and Theo De Hes crossed within three minutes of each other, James Pocklington goaling both, to make it 16-12, Gareth Short’s try just before the break edging Jarrow eight points clear.
Bruce Parker and Rymie Elliott swapped scores at the start of the second half but once Wilcock had claimed his second, the Vikings hit top gear.
Winger Barry Walker crossed twice in as many minutes, and James Nicolas and Phillip Wall completed the home try scoring. Loose forward Gary Peel was outstanding in defeat for the visitors.
NORTHALLERTON STALLIONS put in one of their best performances of the season to down DURHAM DEMONS 64–20.
Stallions opened the scoring after five minutes with a James Park try converted by Don Payne.
The next half hour saw further tries by Lee Worsnop, Tom Robson, Ben Hawkins with two and Jonathan Castling plus three Don Payne conversions put Northallerton 32-0 in front.
A Durham try and conversion just before half time saw them on the board.
The second half saw Northallerton continue to dominate with further touchdowns from Payne, James Knox with a brace, Worsnop and Park plus five Payne conversions making it 60–6.
A late rally by Durham saw them score three converted tries, with Northallerton scoring a further four-pointer by Park to complete his hat trick.
James Knox was man of the match for Northallerton while Stephen Marshall was a standout for Durham.
PETERLEE PUMAS secured their position in top spot, maintained their unbeaten record and booked a place in the grand final as they posted a 26-12 win over NEWCASTLE STORM at Helford Road.
Peterlee forced an error from the kick off from it, loose forward Stephen Stockdale scored on the left.
Pumas received a penalty shortly afterwards for Storm holding down in the tackle and winger James Daniels went in on the left to score from the tap.
A shift wide right on half way put full back Scott Jordan away and he beat three defenders to score.
Peterlee defended their line well and, on the break out, centre Paul Moss was held up over the line, the ball shifted left and second row Adam Howard scored.
Newcastle hit back through Gavin Houston who scooted from dummy half on the back of a penalty that gave them good field position, his brother Adam kicking the conversion.
A string of home errors piggy-backed Storm down field and Gavin Houston got his second with Adam again landing the extras.
Moss was adjudged to have knocked the ball on over the line but Peterlee turned over Newcastle on their own 20 metre and Howard went in with Moss converting to make the half time score 22-12.
A further score took a long time to come in the second half.
Howard drove forward to the try line and had the ball knocked out of his hand, James Clark instantly picking it up and diving over.
