Sheffield Tigers left National Three North in turmoil with a sensational 29-3 victory over previous leaders Sale at Dore Moor as they made it five wins from six games.
Sheffield Tigers left National Three North in turmoil with a sensational 29-3 victory over previous leaders Sale at Dore Moor as they made it five wins from six games.
Although Tigers are still in fourth place, the result knocked Sale off the top and they are now locked in battle with Firwood Waterloo, the new leaders, and Yorkshire’s Sandal. All three are level on league points, with only scoring difference splitting them.
Sale quickly countered an opening penalty goal by centre Liam Wallace for Tigers, but that was to prove their only score as the Dore Moor side forged ahead with a try by scrum-half Adam Shaw before being awarded a penalty try which Wallace converted.
Wallace also converted when winger Henri Packard raced over 18 minutes into the second half, and Tigers clinched a four-try bonus when centre Steve Walker sprinted over and Wallace again added the points.
In a great double for the city, Sheffield went top of North One East when they demolished previous leaders Dinnington 22-0 in their derby clash at Lodge Lane.
Dinnington did not appear to be giving up their lead easily, and the game was in its 37th minute before Sheffield edged in front with the first of two tries by No 8 Johnny France.
France crashed over again after running 55 metres following an interception five minutes into the second half, and the Abbeydale club’s third try – also from an interception – came from flanker Alex Fawdry. Ben Parker, who converted two out of three, added a penalty.
George Wood scored two tries in 20 minutes to help leaders Doncaster Phoenix to a 21-17 victory over local rivals Wath on Dearne in Yorkshire One.
Wood’s two first-half tries, along with a third from Tom Battye were all converted by Ben Miller and although Wath did come close to catching their rivals, time ran out and they slipped to defeat.
Barnsley were knocked off the top of Yorkshire Two when they crashed to a 33-17 defeat at West Leeds.
The Shaw Lane side were slow off the mark and trailed 20-5 by half time. Prop Tom Naisby scored two of their three tries, with winger Ashley Salkeld also crossing and Paddy Jensen converting just one after regular kicker Andrew Appleyard had gone off injured before the break.
Sheffield Medicals sat in third place going into their game against Bradford Salem and were disappointed to lose to the West Yorkshire team ten places below them in the table.
Number seven Jindo and number eight Joe Beechy both managed to crash over for Medicals but they lacked the required intensity in the second half and slipped to a 36-13 defeat.
Rotherham Phoenix moved up into the top half of Yorkshire Three with a 26-16 home win over Baildon, but Stocksbridge slipped back when they were beaten 32-14 by Bramley Phoenix at Bolsterstone.
Sheffield Oaks are already staring relegation in the face after conceding no fewer than 20 tries in a 136-0 Yorkshire Four whitewash at Wetherby.
Mick Davidson scored two tries as Mosborough dominated to win 36-17 at Knaresborough.