TIER 4 REGIONAL ROUND UP – 9th June - compiled by Phil Caplan @scratchingshed2

SCOTLAND  @ScotRugbyLeague

EASTERHOUSE PANTHERS, aided by a hat trick from Hull under 20s half back Chad McGlame, won the first ever Glasgow derby 78-14 at home to VICTORIA KNIGHTS. Army Academy winger Indio Singh scored a try and five goals and kicked intelligently throughout, Panthers building a 44-6 half time lead and posting 14 tries in all. Centre Lepani Sorro, skipper Steven McCarter – who also landed five conversions, Nathan Delgado and Ross McConniville all claimed doubles, Garetth Johns and Boris Boum their other try scorers, Sorro kicking their 11th goal. For the Knights, Ian Brown claimed two tries and Grant Seymour their other, Scott Shankie their goal scorer.

AYRESHIRE STORM were unable to capitalise on a bright start as they fell to 36-26 defeat to ABERDEEN WARRIORS at Westdyke. Well taken tries by Danyl Davies – his 16th of the campaign – and Gordon Powrie, either side of an unconverted Grant Walker score, put the visitors 10-4 in front after 22 minutes but the game gradually slipped away from them and tries from Richard Roach, Douglas Sharp and Carwyn Walker put the Warriors 18-10 up at the break. Storm hit back at the start of the second half through David Crangle but tow Walker touchdowns put Aberdeen back in the ascendancy. Davies and Powrie reduced the deficit to four points to set up a thrilling climax with four minutes to go but a Jordan Robertson try between the posts sealed the win.

FIFE LIONS were unable to match the pace and power of EDINBURGH EAGLES who were convincing 80-12 winners at Harley Street.  Captain Ross Grady opened the scoring, for the Eagles Cockburn, Robertson (2), Vernon, Rowlands (2), Steele, Murray, Barber (2), Cowan, Walker and Parkinson their other  try scorers and Borthwick, Steele and Jarvis the standouts.

WEST OF ENGLAND @SouthWestRL

SWINDON ST GEORGE moved up into third place in the table level with leaders Bristol Sonics A after a handsome 52-22 win over GLOUCESTERSHIRE WARRIORS A at Greenbridge Road. That was thanks to a hat-trick from Mike Thompson and a try and six goals from James Slatter. St George had powered into a 34-6 halftime lead with two tries from Eddie Curtis and one each from Terry Martin, Jacob Rakubta, Paul Wimott and Thompson’s first of the day with the Warriors replying with a converted try. The Warriors opened the second period well and pulled a try back but Thompson scored twice to push the home side further ahead. Between these scores, the Warriors crossed and scored another after Rukubta had scored his second of the day. Slatter completed the scoring by bringing up the half century with a solo try that went unconverted. Swindon are joined on four points by SOMERSET VIKINGS who needed a late try to beat OXFORD CAVALIERS 39-36 in a thriller at North Hinksey. The Cavaliers’ first home game of the season ended with the Somerset Vikings just getting the points with a late try.

NORTH WEST @rugbyleaguenw

In Division One, a terrific second half fight back from HINDLEY maintained their fine campaign so far with a 20-16 triumph over THATTO HEATH CRUSADERS. Winger Adam Cropper got the visiting Crusaders off to a great start on two minutes, Chris Ford adding the extras. Tom Unsworth replied but Heath scored again, this time through Shaun Quinn; Ford converting. Michael Arrowsmith grabbed an unconverted try for Hindley, but once again they were undone as Quinn claimed his second try on 36 minutes to give the Crusaders a 16-8 lead at half time. However, the second half belonged to Hindley. Paul Hersnip went over seven minutes after the restart, with Stephen Sutcliffe converting and, on 65 minutes, Sutcliffe then converted his own try, which was a fantastic individual effort.

LEIGH EAST secured a fine 50-10 victory at home to ROCHDALE COBRAS. The game didn’t start perfectly for the hosts, though, as it was Rochdale that took the lead on seven minutes with a try from hooker Daniel Blandford. However, it didn’t take long for Leigh to find their rhythm with four tries in the opening period from Nicky Ratcliffe, Thomas Gaughan, Daniel Kilshaw and Adam Holland and three conversions by Ryan Peters, which gave them a 22-4 lead at the break. In the first set of the second half, some great Easts play resulted in Adam Cooper to the posts and they further imposed their authority with tries from Holland, Cooper and Michael Redford, with six more points from the boot of Peters. The Cobras did show some fight with a four pointer from Seta Kolinisau, converted by Dominic Kolshaw, and the home side had the final say with Ryan Hughes scoring with seven minutes to go.

In Division Four, WIGAN ST CUTHBERTS came away from the NEWTON STORM with a point thanks to a hard fought 20-20 draw. The visitors started the game well, winger Caine Thompson scoring the opening try on two minutes. However, that was as good as it got for them in the opening 40 minutes, as the Storm took control of the game with three converted tries from Carl Traynor and a Mike Rowe double, Matt Stafford adding the extras, to give Newton a solid 18-4 advantage at half time. Stafford added a penalty a minute into the second half, and those two points were to prove crucial as St Cuth’s produced a great second half performance to secure a share of the spoils. Mike Scrivens crossed on 48 minutes with centre Danny Clayton following suit just eight minutes later; Declan Riley converting the latter. And the comeback was complete six minutes from time as second rower Martin Pennington went in, Riley goaling to level.

LONDON & SOUTH EAST @LondonRL

HAMMERSMITH HILLS HOISTS and LONDON SKOLARS A remain locked at the top of the Southern Premier league after the latest round of matches. The Hoists had a comfortable win over bottom club West London Sharks 22-10, while the Skolars had an even bigger victory at home to Eastern Rhinos, the north London club running our 64-16 winners.
It was a much closer affair in the division’s other game with ELMBRIDGE EAGLES beating SOUTH LONDON STORM 36-28 in a 12-try extravaganza. The Eagles scored seven to their opponents five with each landing four goals.

In the South East Regional League PORTSMOUTH NAVY SEAHAWKS remain on top after a convincing 44-18 home win over bottom club MEDWAY DRAGONS. Second placed GUILDFORD GIANTS kept up the pressure on the Seahawks following their 42-26 victory over SUSSEX MERLINS. The shock result of the day came at SOUTHAMPTON where the SPITFIRES ruined GREENWICH ADMIRALS’ chances of going top of the table with a thumping 42-12 win.
In the Entry League, HAMMERSMITH HILLS HOISTS A beat the splendidly-named MUDCHUTE UNCLES from London’s East End 30-16.

WALES @WalesRugbyL

VALLEY COUGARS worked hard to overturn a 16 point second half deficit using their experience to finally over power an inexperienced TITANS side 34-26. The first half was fairly even, Cougars scoring first through John Sanigar, the extras added by Paul Emmanuelli before Tom James replied for Titans, Bailey adding the goal. Titans increased their lead with a try by experienced Adam Davies who kicked the conversion himself. Daryl Carter hit back with a try for Cougars, Emmanuelli adding the goal to leave matters all square at the break. For a while the second half was all Titans as Whittington, Rogers and James all crossed for tries but only one goal was added in the blustery conditions. As injuries to key players took its toll on the Titans the Cougars took control. Matthew Powell crossed for a try, goaled by Emmanuelli, before Steve Williams’ cross field kick was caught by Ben Thomas. Sanigar barged through from close range before James Allen crossed for a try both goaled by Emmanuelli as a relieved Cougars snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.

BONYMAEN BRONCOS were convincing 84-14 victors over CARDIFF DEMONS. Broncos did not have to wait long for their first try with the game only four minutes old when player/coach Richard Brooks crashed over his brother Ian missing the conversion. It was very much one way traffic for the next 20 minutes with the Demons struggling to get any possession. Tries followed from Nick Clancy, a Jonathan Jones hat trick, James Bija, and Jason Howells with a brace, all converted by Ian Brooks.
Demons scored two tries before half time to make it 44-10.  The second half was very much the same, Robert Jones leading the way with a display of power and pace getting him a second half hat-trick. Further tries came from Bija, Trystan Heardman, Clancy and Richard Williams with Ian Brooks and Stuart Allen sharing the kicking between them. 

In the first ever game between the two sides BRIDGEND BLUE BULLS received a mighty scare at Penybanc RFC before finally beating DYFFRYN DEVILS 44-26, with Dan Smith claiming a hat trick and teenage full-back Huw Rosser scoring 26 points. The reigning Champions were without a number of key players and were disjointed at the start, and the Devils took full advantage with Owen Williams posting the opening try in the second minute with Ceri Rees converting. Bridgend were back on level terms straight away when Dan Smith raced over for his first and Rosser converted. Rosser then scored himself after gathering the ball from a Devils kick and racing 90 metres weaving past a number of would-be tacklers for a great solo score, and he converted himself for a 12-6 lead. Devils hit back via Ceri Rees but then Lee Smith scored the Bulls third, although it came at a cost with the centre injuring his leg while scoring, Rosser again added the extra two. The Bulls should have claimed a fourth moments later after a great break from Tylon Mafi, but he was brought down just short and then penalised for illegally playing the ball and the Devils broke away and Steffan Jones scored to cut the deficit to just four points at half time. Two tries for Dan Smith in the opening five minutes of the second half gave the second rower his treble with Rosser adding both kicks then great play from Nathan Hawkins and Lee Harben-Jones ended in a try for Mikey Rowe. Good play from Williams then saw Dafydd Pritchard score the Devils fourth with Rees again adding the extras and Rosser claimed his second for Bridgend after a Josh Miles run, Rosser converting from the touchline.Despite being 20 points down the Devils never gave up and were rewarded with a fifth score with Gareth Rees seizing on a mistake by Chris McGrath but the final say went to Bulls forward Ken Dowding who capped off a good performance with the final touchdown.

PRESTATYN & RHYL PANTHERS went back to the top of the league after an emphatic 52-16 win at Dee Valley Dragons in Corwen. The Panthers got off to a slow start losing possession early in the tackle count resulting in Chris Davis of Dee Valley going over for an unconverted try. Panthers hit straight back through George Cliff out wide on the right. Prestatyn went over again after great work from Callum Bennett to put Mike Hall over by the posts. Another mistake from the Panthers resulted in a try for the Dragons from Huw Parry which was converted by Dylan Roberts to make it 10-10 after 25 minutes. Mike Bagnall was sin binned for a professional foul, Louis Collinge crossing out wide for the Panthers, converted by Bennett. On the half time whistle captain Ben Syme went through a gap to score a wonderful individual try along with a Bennett conversion to make it 20-10. Panthers stepped up a gear in the second half and it resulted in Dan Jones and Paul Sellwood scoring tries after great work from half back duo Syme and Bennett, Bennett converted both to make it 32-10. The try of the game came from Kyle Robinson and Cal Morris went in to extend the lead. Hall grabbed his second after a break from Bennett which was closely followed by his third with another blistering run. Dragons hit back late on with a consolation try through Steffan Parry with the conversion added by Roberts.

MIDLANDS @MidsRugbyLeague

GLOUCESTERSHIRE WARRIORS travelled to LEICESTER STORM with a depleted squad and put up a brave fight, especially in the second half, but were outclassed. Ten tries all converted by Tom Knott saw the Storm maintain their unbeaten record and stay on course for a place in the Grand Final. Warriors drafted in Joel James and Kieran Cox from the All Golds U18 squad and both performed well in difficult circumstances. Warriors were on the back foot from the kickoff and two tries in the first six minutes got the Storm off to a perfect start. The Warriors held out as the Storm battered them running down the appreciable slope but two more tries in the 19th and 24th minutes had the home side scoring at a point a minute. Two more converted tries followed before Ash Lewis dummied over from close to the line to get the Warriors on the board after a rare sortie into the Storm 20. His conversion was the last kick of the half but the Warriors took the momentum into the second period and piled pressure on the Storm line. Leicester lifted the siege and scored again ten minutes into the second period to make the score 42-6. The Storm always had the edge but in their over-eagerness to score, conceded possession and penalties allowing the Warriors to exert pressure themselves. The visitors got their reward as Mike Ashford bounced off a Storm defender to score. Two tries in the final few minutes sealed a 60-10 win for the Storm but the Warriors were camped on their line at the end.

YORKSHIRE @YorkshireRL

A second half super-show from WEST BRADFORD BARBARIANS saw them overcome gallant LEEDS AKKIES, 44-14 at home. Ash Hutchinson opened the scoring for the Barbarians in the fourth minute, Steve Richardson following him over soon after, Nathan Marshall converting both tries. Akkies hit back through centre James Myerscough and although Elliott Collins grabbed the try of the match and Callum Wilcock potted a penalty for Wests, Ian McGregor went in for the Akkies on the stroke of half time, Alex Clarke goaling to make it 20-10 at the break. Three tries in ten minutes at the start of the second half – to hooker Scott Smith, Marshall and Dean Smith – saw the Barbarians pull away, winger Liam Jackson claiming their eighth touchdown, Clarke grabbing a consolation try for the Akkies five minutes from time.

A length of the field Max Miller score in the 62nd minute was the highlight of MILFORD MARLINS’ 42-18 triumph over HUNSLET WARRIORS at Becketts Park. Marlins ran in eight tries, scrum half Nathan Currie leading the way with two and seven goals for a 22 point haul. The visitors posted the first points through winger James Dawson but Currie then dominated proceedings with his brace sandwiched by a Joey French effort for the hosts. Joel Henry hit back for the visitors but Tom Barnes’ converted effort made it 24-8 at the interval. Warriors began the second half on the front foot, second rower Mathew Rymer crossing but Miller and a seven minute double to Dan Bowker re-established Milford’s supremacy. Danny Morgan scored a late consolation for the visitors, Ryan Clarke goaling.

FRYSTON WARRIORS preserved their unbeaten start to the campaign with a hard fought 34-20 victory at SKIRLAUGH BULLS, in a game were the lead changed hands six times before an impressive last quarter saw the visitors home. Bulls hooker Joe Hall scooted over after seven minutes, Jason Bell adding the extras and the on the quarter hour mark impressive second rower Matty Bower gathered a kick through from Rob Blakebrough to make it 10-0. Warriors roared back with tries to full back Jimmy Clarkson and their star man loose forward Jack Lee, both converted by stand off Andy Speak as Skirlaugh prop Jack Gay was sin binned for dissent. On the half hour mark, Bower had a try ruled out for a forward pass but the Bulls went into the interval with the lead when winger Steve Pidd squeezed in at the corner from a superb Lee Hall pass. Fryston re-gained the lead when second rower Steve Scott powered over seven minutes into the second period, which Speak converted, but the visitors had hooker Adam Chapple dismissed for punching and straight away the Bulls scored through Blakeborough, which Bell converted to make it 20-18 in a see-saw encounter. On the hour Bulls substitute Simon Kilby was red carded for alleged dissent and Fryston took advantage to score through centre Adam Rothwell with Speak again on target with the conversion. Two minutes later, Warriors scored again to open a ten point cushion when Scott went over for his second try and Speak kicked his fifth goal. The last word went to Warriors prop Adam Whittingham who made the points safe in the last minute with the final touchdown.

In a thriller at YORK ACORN, the hosts hung on to defeat HOLDERNESS VIKINGS 24-20. Acorn's points came from Karl Harton, Carl Loft, Adam Sellars and Joe Burns with four goals from Stephen Waldron.                         For the Vikings, Ian Fletcher Scott Harrison with a brace and Tom Grassby crossed, Grassby landing two conversions.  Loft took the home man of the match award and, for the visitors, scrum half Grassby impressed throughout.