East Leeds promoted after derby win in National League One play-off final

It is Easts’ second successive promotion and came after they finished fourth in National League Division One, two places and a couple of points ahead of Oulton. Raiders avoided relegation to the regional leagues in pre-season after Ince Rose Bridge withdrew from the competition and they have had an encouraging year, capped by outstanding wins at Dewsbury clubs Moor and Celtic in the play-offs.

But they couldn’t reproduce that form in the final and Easts were convincing victors, though they only pulled clear in the last 10 minutes. A try on the stroke of half-time gave them the advantage after Raiders had made the better start, going 6-0 ahead early on.

Dave Gibbons, the former Hunslet RLFC stand-off, backed himself close to the line and his footwork took past a couple of defenders for a fine solo score which set the tone for Easts’ dominant performance in the second period. Full-back Luke Littlewood, the eventual man of the match, added the extras after scoring the red and whites’ opening eight points through a well-worked try from Owen Hughes’ pass after 16 minutes, the conversion and a penalty six before the interval. AJ Wilson also got over Oulton’s line, but his touchdown was ruled out.

Raiders had led from the fourth minute when Joe Horan went in at the corner after Matty Stableford had been held up over the line. Archie Craggs couldn’t convert, but landed a penalty shortly before Easts’ opener.

Oulton got back in the game straight after the break when their opponents were penalised in the first set and a gap opened up for Ben Brady off Stableford’s pass. But there was no goal, Littlewood made it a six-point game with a penalty shortly afterwards and Raiders never really threatened after that.

Easts had chances to seal the game, but Owen Hughes couldn’t find Ryan Woofitt with a pass and then James Duckworth, who played in Super League for Leeds Rhinos at the start of his career, bounced the ball attempting to touchdown from acting-half. With 10 minutes left Shane Plunkett thought he had scored, but had a foot in touch before reaching over.

Ten minutes from time Littlewood booted his third penalty goal to finally move East Leeds two scores clear. They put the matter beyond doubt in the next set with a spectacular score; Gibbons chipped over the defence, Littlewood ran through to make the catch, drew the last defender and sent a jubilant Isaac Coleman over with his pass. Fittingly, Littlewood had the final say with a drop goal in the last minute as Easts head into the Premier Division.

East Leeds: Littlewood, Wilson, Hartley, Duckworth, Plunkett, Gibbons, Hughes, Railton, Crawford, Mullen, Woofitt, Coleman, Riley. Subs Kamano, O’Donovan, Mensah, Walker.

Oulton Raiders: Horan, Hawkhead, Holdsworth, Metcalfe, Crawshaw, Kershaw, Craggs, Lunn, Watson, Stableford, Waring, Brady, Tetley. Subs: Greensmith, Edmiston, Rotherham, Stevens.

Referee: Reece Schofield (Manchester).