Club rugby: Wharfedale survive try scare to step up to sixth

The first half was dominated by fly-half Jack Blakeney-Edwards with all 13 points, and the Yorkshire side made an equally quick start to the second, running over the line twice through Philip Woodhead and Rhys Lovegrove.

Three tries brought Leicester back within two points, but the hosts were awarded a penalty try nine minutes before time to seal the win.

Hull Ionians stretched their lead in National Two North after they beat Huddersfield 20-15 in a clash of the top two.

Huddersfield started brightly and went in front after 15 minutes but it was the Ionians pack that made the impact with all three of their tries coming from the forwards, Ed Falkingham with the last to see them over the line.

Sheffield Tigers had a day to remember as they ran in eight tries to record a 54-7 victory over strugglers Macclesfield.

Four tries before the half helped Tigers race into a 28-0 lead at the end of the first half. The second half was much of the same but it would be the hosts’ outside centre Jamie Broadley that stole the show, adding three more tries to his one from the first half.

Elsewhere Otley crossed the line four times to secure a bonus point 28-10 win over Peterborough.

Leaders Hull maintained their good form with a 23-8 win at Yorkshire rivals Ilkley in the North Premier league.

The visitors crossed the line three times and the defence, which has conceded the fewest points in the league were at their ruthless best to hold their opponents to single figures.

Vale of Lune and Harrogate battled out the game of the day, with the Yorkshire side securing a 45-38 win in a 12-try thriller in Lancashire.

Sandal narrowly missed out on victory and a top-four spot as their trip to Kirkby Lonsdale ended with a 19-18 defeat.

It’s close at the top of the North One East table with four teams level on 33 points.

York dropped to second place as they were beaten 34-24 at Huddersfield YMCA who move up to third, while Scarborough also lost, 42-26 at home against Driffield, as they drop to fourth.

Elsewhere, Malton and Norton secured a much-needed 33-29 win over Morley, while West Leeds went down 34-9 to new leaders Morpeth.

Bradford and Bingley ran in five tries on their way to a 54-22 win over Consett, and Cleckheaton were narrow 20-17 winners over Pocklington.

Leaders Old Crossleyans were 26-5 winners at Old Rishworthians in Yorkshire One, while second-placed Moortown kept pace with an impressive 48-15 win over Middlesbrough.

Heath’s 31-19 win at Guisborough leaves them third and just four points away from top spot, while Old Brodleians kept pace with the top few a 40-27 win over Selby to move up to fourth.

An impressive run of form came to halt for Rotherham Titans in National One after falling 22-8 to promotion rivals Ampthill.

The Bedfordshire side hailed the win as their best of the season, but the Titans battled well and were unlucky not to take something from the game.

Centre Ellis Abrahams’ penalty on 33 minutes was their only score of a first half which ended 7-3, and despite playing uphill after the break Rotherham took the lead with centre Jamie Cooke touching down out wide on 42 minutes.

The two sides remained matched until the final 17 minutes, with Ampthill scoring two tries, a conversion and penalty to seal the win.