By Gareth Marshall

East Region:

Last season’s East Region league leaders HUNSLET WARRIORS got the new campaign off to a good start with a 22-14 victory on the road at Leeds rivals MILFORD MARLINS.

The Warriors touched down with three tries inside the first 25 minutes from Danny Cahill and Nathan Sheard (2). But Milford crossed over for a try of their own on the stroke of half time; stand-off Jack Fletcher with the score to leave the game nicely poised for the second half.

It was Hunslet that added the next four points after the restart through Ricky Flint to take the score to 16-6. But Milford weren’t beaten, and they responded with two tries from Dwaine Mcrea and Billy Browne to reduce the arrears to just two points. However, it wasn’t to be their day as, with four minutes remaining, Jake Reed went over to seal the points for the Warriors.

West Region:

It was a tough day at the office for new side PILKINGTON RECS away at LEIGH EAST. A weakened Recs outfit struggled to handle the strength of the hosts, as Easts ran out 40-0 victors. Tries from Mitchell Cox (2), Zac Nicholls, Chris Whittle, Josh Adu-Duwama, Andy Ball, Conor Johnson and Alex Holcroft assured two points in round one for the home side.

Elsewhere, 2011 Conference Youth League winners THATTO HEATH CRUSADERS made a winning start to 2012 as they saw off the LEIGH MINERS RANGERS 36-28.

Results:

East Region-

Gateshead Thunder 46 Hemel Stags 0
Holderness Vikings 36 East Leeds 10
Milford Marlins 14 Hunslet Warriors 22

West Region-

Leigh East 40 Pilkington Recs 0
Leigh Miners Rangers 28 Thatto Heath Crusaders 36
North Wales 4 Ryland Sharks 44
Saddleworth Rangers 4 Wigan St Judes 34

Fixtures:

All matches to take place on Sunday 18 March

East Region-

East Leeds v West Hull
Hemel Stags v Milford Marlins

West Region-

Folly Lane v Pilkington Recs
Ryland Sharks v Leigh Miners Rangers
Thatto Heath Crusaders v Saddleworth Rangers
Wigan St Judes v Leigh East