Our Weekly League Round-Up

The three Catch-up fixtures played on March 2nd ended as follows:
Huddersfield 12 – Rotherham 31; Wharfedale 18 – Tynedale 17; Otley 41 – Preston 12.
Of the games played on March 9th, two were Yorkshire County derbies and two were Roses clashes.

The big shock of the day almost came at Wharfedale where the home side were leading Leeds Tykes by 8-7 in the 73rd minute after trailing 7-0 at the interval. In front of the days largest N2N attendance (486) the Tykes were given a very hard time by Wharfedale and for the very first time this season came very close to losing a game. The Wharfe hearts were broken when the Tykes full-back Keiran Davies scored in the 74th minute to make the score 12-8. They nearly scored in the final play of the game when a cross-field kick to the right wing just evaded the chasers. The Wharfedale lock, Elliot Stockton was named as Man-of-the-Match.

Second-placed Rotherham Titans were given a hard time in the first half of their home game with Hull Ionians who held them to a 14-10 lead at half-time. The Titans took complete control during the second period to score four further tries to post a convincing 42-17 victory. Former Hull RUFC prop Tiploma Kivalu scored tries in the 58th and 72nd minutes but the Man-of-the-Match went to the Titans
scrum-half Charlie Capps.

The first Roses clash resulted in Preston Grasshoppers giving a ruthless display to defeat bottom side Huddersfield by 70-19 after building up a massive 49-7 lead by half-time. The Hoppers delighted their fans by scoring ten tries, all of which were converted by fly-half Will Hunt who gave a master-class display of goal-kicking by converting all ten tries. He capped a good day personally by being voted
Man-of-the-Match.

Fylde v Sheffield RUFC at The Woodlands was a very close and tense game between the fifth and third placed sides as Fylde gave a fine display against a Sheffield side who have only lost one game in their last 12 matches. After leading by 10-5 at the break Fylde ran out winners by 23-22, despite Sheffield scoring three tries to Fylde’s two. Sheffield will rue some poor discipline which allowed the Fylde fly-half Greg Smith the chance to land three penalty goals, the last of which in the 69th minute
proved to be the match winner. The Man-of-the Match award went to the Fylde lock Ollie Parkinson.

In another very tight game at Tynedale the home side scored four tries to Otley’s three to win the game by 26-22 after leading 19-15 at the interval. In what was described as “a cracking game” Otley belied their lower league position to give their higher placed opponents a very tough game to gain a losing bonus point. Tyne’s No 8 Owen Vassallo took the Man-of-the-Match award.

Lowly Billingham gave their hopes of avoiding relegation a big boost when they posted a very good home win over Sheffield Tigers by 30-19 after leading 17-7 at the break. They scored 4 tries to the Tigers’ three and although the visitors pressed hard in the final quarter they were sent back to Dore Moor pointless. Billingham’s back-rower Mike Whinn was the Man-of-the-Match.

Finally, Hull RUFC made the long trip into Cheshire to take on Lymm and although both sides scored three tries the visitors were beaten in a very close and entertaining game by 28-22 after trailing 20-10 at the break. Once again Hull conceded penalties allowing the Lymm marksman Thomas Shard to land three
penalty goals to add to his two conversions. He also won the Man-of-the-Match honours. Hull had to be satisfied with a losing bonus point after shading the second period by 12-10.

The positions at the top of the table have narrowed after Rotherham winning their catch-up game and Leeds dropping a winning bonus point. The Tykes are in top spot on 103 points with the Titans now on 98 points, but Leeds have a scoring difference of 530 compared with Rotherham’s 391.

Sheffield RUFC are third on 76 and Wharfedale are fourth on 67. In the nether regions Huddersfield are on 18 points, Hull Ionians are on 32, Billingham are on 32, with Lymm now on 42. Billingham’s points difference is minus 205 while Hull Ionians are minus 229.

This coming Saturday the top two fixtures (according to league placings) are Preston Grasshoppers v Billingham, where 10th play 12th and Sheffield Tigers v Wharfedale, where seventh play fourth.
Ferensian.