What happened in the latest round of the National Conference League? Find out here...
Leigh East held a Millom fightback to win their first home game of the season in Division Three of the National Conference League.
Millom made the best of starts, applying early pressure befor Dom O'Brien blasted over the line at the side of the posts for Jonty Peters to convert. The lead lasted barely four minutes before the host's put the ball through hands to the left and Marcus Mercer touched down for former Super League man Craig Mullen to convert.
Mullen, recruited by East in the close season was outstanding all game at halfback and his DNA was all over the next score in the 14th minute when he slid a kick through for Bernard Aoagye to touch down wide out on the left.
The teams traded field position with Workington Town dual-registered Jude Lupton passing well and Kian Mcpherson and Connor Terrill impressing for Millom. East had some good forward play themselves from skipper Connor Grainey, ably supported by Adam Wilkes and Louis Else.
Crucially it was Leigh East that swept over for a third try with Mullen going over by the posts after some good interplay with Else. East looked the more likely to claim further points too as they lay siege to the line just after the half hour before a brilliant read from Peters saw him intercept Cai O'Briens pass and he made it seventy metres downfield before unloading inside for Tom Askew to skip to the posts.
A second goal from Peters closed the gap to 16-12, but another good attack by the hosts down the right was finished by Matthew Aspinall and the teams went in at the break with Leigh East leading 20-12.
Early in the second half it was all East again and fullback Ryan Barnes had enough momentum to carry him over the line after 43 minutes and Mullen added his third goal. Millom were far from out of the contest and gradually built their way into decent field position with stand-off Jonathan Hodgson running and combining well with halfback partner Kyle Evans.
Centre Kai Williams and second row Hadley Thompson also had their moments and some great combinations got Tom Askew over for his second try after 54 minutes. Unfortunately Jackson Evans couldn't convert but Millom kept up their pressure with Hodgson getting a score after 64 minutes to close the gap to 26-20.
The game appeared to be drifting towards the visitors, particularly after Louis Else was sinbinned for kicking the ball away to prevent a quick restart with eleven minutes remaining. Leigh East stuck together, with Mercer coming up with several clearing runs and the kicking game of Mullen just held Millom away long enough for Else to return and East celebrated victory.
Elsewhere in Division Three, there was a maiden win for new boys Keighley Albion, while Distington, Featherstone Lions and Saddleworth Rangers all enjoyed success.
In the Premier Division, West Hull continue to set the pace while Waterhead are tucked in behind them and there were also wins for Rochdale Mayfield, Siddal, Lock Lane and Wath Brow Hornets.
Division One saw hard fought wins for Heworth, Shaw Cross Sharks and Egremont while there were more comprehensive wins for Wigan St Judes, Wigan St Patricks, and Ince Rose Bridge.
East Leeds continue to dominate the early stages of Division Two, having scored over 200 points in four games so far and over seventy points in their latest win. The rest of the division is certainly a thriller with no more than ten points deciding the games. There were victories for Ellenborough Rangers, Pilkington Recs, Normanton Knights, Drighlington and Dewsbury Celtic.
Results (Saturday 29 March):
Premier Division
Dewsbury Moor Maroons 12 26 West Hull
Rochdale Mayfield 28 10 Hunslet ARLFC
York Acorn 4 20 Siddal
Thatto Heath Crusaders 18 20 Lock Lane
Waterhead Warriors 38 16 West Bowling
Wath Brow Hornets 28 0 Leigh Miners Rangers
Division One
Crosfields 10 20 Heworth
Egremont Rangers 14 6 Stanningley
Oulton Raiders 16 54 Wigan St Judes
Shaw Cross Sharks 28 20 Kells
Wigan St Patricks 32 4 Oldham St Annes
Ince Rose Bridge 38 14 Woolston Rovers
Division Two
Drighlington 34 32 Hensingham
East Leeds 72 10 Clock Face Miners
Hull Dockers 12 22 Dewsbury Celtic
Normanton Knights 20 14 Barrow Island
Skirlaugh 18 20 Pilkington Recs
Ellenborough Rangers 10 6 Thornhill Trojans
Division Three
Bentley 10 16 Distington
Beverley 22 35 Keighley Albion
Leigh East 26 20 Millom
Milford 12 22 Featherstone Lions
Saddleworth Rangers 16 0 Myton Warriors
Next round's fixtures:
Premier Division (Saturday 5 April):
Dewsbury Moor Maroons v West Bowling 14:30
Thatto Heath Crusaders v Leigh Miners Rangers 14:30
Lock Lane v Hunslet ARLFC 14:00
Siddal v Waterhead Warriors 14:30
West Hull v Rochdale Mayfield 14:30
York Acorn v Wath Brow Hornets 14:30
Division One
Oulton Raiders v Ince Rose Bridge 19:00 (Thurs 3 April)
Saturday 5 April -
Heworth v Egremont Rangers 14:30
Kells v Woolston Rovers 14:30
Oldham St Annes v Crosfields 14:30
Stanningley v Shaw Cross Sharks 14:30
Wigan St Judes v Wigan St Patricks 14:30
Division Two (Saturday 5 April):
Clock Face Miners v Skirlaugh 13:15
Barrow Island v Hull Dockers 14:30
Drighlington v Dewsbury Celtic 14:30
Normanton Knights v Ellenborough Rangers 14:30
Pilkington Recs v Hensingham 14:30
East Leeds v Thornhill Trojans 14:30
Division Three (Saturday 5 April):
Distington v Leigh East 14:30
Featherstone Lions v Bentley 14:30
Keighley Albion v Myton Warriors 14:30
Milford v Beverley 14:30
Millom v Saddleworth Rangers 14:30
By Dave Parkinson
