YORKSHIRE

The difference between two otherwise evenly matched sides at Old Modernians was strapping PARKSIDE HAWKS centre Matt Cunningham.

His four well taken tries tipped the scales in a pulsating derby as LEEDS AKKIES were downed 32-18.

Tries from hooker Chris Roda and skipper Dom Varley helped the Akkies to a 14-12 half time lead, but after the break, Cunningham’s bravura performance earned Hawks victory and cemented second spot above their rivals.


NORTH EAST

NORTHALLERTON STALLIONS’ clash with CRAMLINGTON ROCKETS was the proverbial game of two halves.

The home side found themselves conceding virtually a point a minute in the opening 40 as Cramlington punished their frequent mistakes with seven unanswered tries, four converted, to leave the Stallions with a mountain to climb in the first game at their new ground in Romanby.

New coach Jason Grant’s half time talk transformed things though and Northallerton got on the scoreboard immediately after the re-start.

A Cramlington knock on from the kick off gifted the home side good field position and good approach work saw strong running centre Kalmos Bunyon cross for the try, converted by Don Payne.

Continued Stallions pressure was rewarded again shortly afterwards when man of the match Payne split the defence to race in from 20 metres.

Stallions were now dominating all areas and the visitors frustration led to a number of penalties piggy-backing their hosts down the field.

That finally told when loose forward Gary Beck finished off a good move to give Payne another simple conversion.

Cramlington edged further ahead with an unconverted try before Beck notched his second touchdown – again converted by Payne –following a period of sustained pressure which saw the Rockets denied field position and possession.

Cramlington rallied in the closing stages and further converted tries from strong running prop Peter Breckon and substitute Andrew Inghart left the final score 24–52.

Full back Kevin Davey was outstanding for the visitors.

Size, speed and experience overcame enthusiasm as JARROW VIKINGS defeated WHITLEY BAY BARBARIANS 80-8.

Second rower Philip wall led the way for the Vikings, posting four tries, Andrew Gray – who opened the scoring in the third minute - and Jack Weddell two each.

Stuart Robson, Daniel Barron, Jordan Robinson and Ben Wilcock all crossed for the hosts before the break to make it 40-4, winger Jonny Ward getting over for the Barbarians.

Paul Dodsworth, Graeme Ross and Parker all crossed for Jarrow who ran in 15 tries in total, Robinson claiming Whitley Bay’s second half effort.

PETERLEE PUMAS continued their unbeaten run and moved to the top of the table with a comprehensive 84-0 defeat of WINLATON WARRIORS.

Adam Howard scored from the kick off with a powerful run, Paul Moss converting.

The following 10 minutes was quite scrappy from both sides before Winlaton started to show some spirited attack.

Peterlee held them out and fullback Jordan Scott collected the visitors last tackle kick and ran from just inside his own half to cross the posts.

Prop Craig Gilmore was next across, crashing over by the posts before Stuart Houghton drew the defence to create a gap for wing James Daniels to exploit and score in the corner.

A decisive set from the kick off saw Jordan Scott show his speed and foot work again to go over in the corner.

Peterlee’s Luke Watson went in from half way next and Moss converted after missing the previous two kicks.

Houghton picked the ball from dummy half and broke two tackles before going between the posts for the Pumas making the half time score 38-0.

Houghton added another after the break and Adam Howard capitalised on a tap penalty tap as he took the ball over.

Puma’s scrum half Zac Mcluskey broke the line on half way and raced in and Andrew Turner went over after getting on the end of a shift wide to the right.

Daniels grabbed a try and Turner made a break on the left deep in the Pumas half and then got on the end of a return pass from the supporting Howard.

Stephen Stockdale scored as Winlaton gave a penalty away from the kick off and the final try came through centre James Clarke, just returning from injury, who broke several tired Winlaton tackles.


SCOTLAND

FALKIRK secured their first win after a superb display of strength and agility that disposed of the FORTH AND CLYDE NOMADS.

The first twenty minutes saw the teams very much on an even keel but it was Falkirk who drew first blood after a powerful run from Jamieson who threw aside the Nomads defence to crash under the sticks and put Falkirk into the lead.

Nomads received possession back after a Falkirk knock on but a loose pass on the fourth tackle was swiftly picked up and Gary Dempsey shifted gear and jinked his way up field to score just before the break to leave the half time score 12–0.

Nomads came close through Lyth and Bogle but were unable to capitalise on the territorial advantage at the start of the second half and gifted the ball back to Falkirk who scored again with 15 minutes left.

The Nomads again struck down the left flank but were unable to complete through some stout Falkirk defence which forced the error.

From the scrum Falkirk established field position and an excellent off load out of the tackle to big prop forward Jamieson allowed him to barge his way over for his second.

Nomads never say die attitude paid off as a short kick bounced over the head of the Falkirk defence and into touch. From the scrum, Nomads worked the ball wide for a consolation score to finish 24-6.


WALES

TORFAEN TIGERS, who included four debutants, hosted TYDFIL WILDCATS and won 52-34, to complete the double over their opponents.

Wildcats gave the hosts an early scare when they took a 6-0 lead in the opening minutes thanks to a Ceri Morgan try converted by Luke Williams, but that was to be the only time they led all day.

By the half time whistle, Tigers led 30-20 thanks to tries from second rower Owain Tudball, loose forward Daryl Carter, centre Sam Kettle, prop Steve Faletau and winger Rob Tovey with three goals from Carter and two from Tovey.

In the second half, further tries from prop Scott Morris, second rower Matthew Davies, scrum half Gareth John Jenkins and second tries for both Tovey and Carter and a further goal from captain for the day Carter took the score to 52-34, it could have been more but for Morris having a second adjudged as held up and Rob Davies and John Sutcliffe both dropping the ball with the line at there mercy.

Gareth Foley led the fight back for the Wildcats with a hat trick, Luke Williams scored one and converted twice more while Lewis Ayling and Owen Rees also scored tries.