Three tries in the final seventeen minutes finally put Stanningley clear of their plucky hosts in an entertaining Impact Performance National Conference Division One game at Crosfields. the win sees Stanningley in 5th place in the competition, level on points with Egremont Rangers, Heworth and Skirlaugh.
Early on, there was little to choose between the sides with Crosfield having the better of play before centre Luke Walker found a gap in the defence and swerved away from the cover for a spectacular opening try from sixty metres out. It came five minutes after a wide kick proved too big for wing Corey Lee to get on the end of. Danny Cassidy goaled.
It wasn't long before Stanningley were level when prop, Stephen Welton hulked his way over from close range from Luke Townend's pass and Ben Selby converted. The visitors scored again shortly after through winger Nathan Currie but the teams were well matched for much of the rest of the half before a try right on half-time by Townend, and Selby goal gave Stanningley a 16-6 advantage.
Crosfields raised their game in the second half with hooker Jphn Whittaker and stand-off Joe Barnes starting to run the show and were rewarded with a close range score from Corey Lee after Barnes and Jamie Abram linked, then Lee quickly claimed another for Crosfields in the 52nd minute, to trail just 16-14.
Next came a try for Kian Simpson when he raced through on a lofted kick and took possession ahead of Abram before an emphatic finish. Selby nudged his side eight points clear with his third conversion.
The crucial moment came for Stanningley after 63 minutes. First Jack Sykes broke down the right. Although he was hauled down thanks to a fine combination tackle ten metres from the line, Selby picked up out of dummy half and shot past two bamboozled defenders. That made it 26-14 to the visitors who then had a makeshift home pack on the back foot. Crosfields cause also wasn't helped when they lost Joe Barnes shortly after a brilliant solo run almost brought a try. Stanningley claimed two further tries in the last ten minutes.
The first went to hard running Sam Savage who blasted through the defence, then a touchline dash from Selby saw the winger pass on to full back Adam Butterill and he raced over. Neither were converted but Stanningley were good value for their 34-14 success.
Elsewhere in Division One West Bowling fought back from 22-6 down after an hour to win 28-22 at Pilkington Recs while Egremont Rangers maintained their recent fine form with a 44-6 victory over Skirlaugh. Oulton Raiders proved too strong for Clock Face Miners with a resounding 36-6 success and Heworth won 34-16 at Featherstone Lions.
In the Premier Division Wath Brow Hornets were in impressive form, inflicting Hunslet ARLFC's second defeat in as many weeks by 26-12. Siddal just hung on to beat an improving York Acorn 22-20, while Wigan St Pats improved to account for Thatto Heath Crusaders 38-22. Lock Lane rattled off an impressive 24-16 home win over West Hull while Rochdale Mayfield bested Leigh Miners Rangers, away, by 46-6 and Hull Dockers fought to claim an 18-10 success over Kells.
Waterhead Warriors were pushed all the way at Woolston Rovers before getting a 24-18 success in Division Two while East Leeds also claimed a big home win, 32-16 against Saddleworth Rangers. Promotion challengers Dewsbury Moor Maroons fought out a 28-4 success at home against Myton Warriors, while neighbours Dewsbury Celtic held out to win 14-12 against Normanton Knights. Shaw Cross Sharks enjoyed their trip to Cumbria, defeating Barrow Island 38-6.
Division Three leaders Oldham St Annes were too strong for Seaton Rangers, winning 70-8, while the challenging pack also won. Millom accounted for Hensingham 46-10 on a day when they were fundraising for the Gary and Logan Lion Hearts Fund, Leigh East won an excellent contest 36-22 at Drighlington with flying fullback Kieran Prescott scoring four tries and Ellenborough Rangers won 36-12 against Beverley. Bentley moved their home game against Eastmoor Dragons to Sunday and played at Doncaster RLFC where they took to their surroundings and won through 30-6.
Results
SAT 20TH MAY 2023
Premier Division
- York Acorn 20 Siddal 22
- Wigan St Patricks 38 Thatto Heath Crusaders 22
- Wath Brow Hornets 26 Hunslet ARLFC 12
- Lock Lane 24 West Hull 16
- Leigh Miners Rangers 6 Rochdale Mayfield 46
- Hull Dockers 18 Kells 10
Division One
- Pilkington Recs 22 West Bowling 28
- Oulton Raiders 36 Clock Face Miners 6
- Featherstone Lions 16 Heworth 34
- Egremont Rangers 44 Skirlaugh 6
- Crosfields 14 Stanningley 34
Division Two
- Woolston Rovers 18 Waterhead Warriors 24
- East Leeds 32 Saddleworth Rangers 16
- Dewsbury Moor Maroons 28 Myton Warriors 4
- Dewsbury Celtic 14 Normanton Knights 12
- Barrow Island 6 Shaw Cross Sharks 38
Division Three
- Oldham St Annes 70 Seaton Rangers 8
- Millom 46 Hensingham 10
- Drighlington 22 Leigh East 36
- Ellenborough Rangers 36 Beverley 12
SUN 21ST MAY
- Bentley 30 Eastmoor Dragons 6
