National League 2 North review
MAR
A stoppage time penalty from Chris Reakes saw Hull Ionians seal a dramatic 22-19 win away to Dudley Kingswinford. Reakes struck in the 84th minute shortly after DK had a try disallowed to extend his side’s winning run to 11 matches. Ionians battled manfully to the last having played an hour of the contest with just 14 men following Mark Wigham’s dismissal on 20 minutes. They are now just seven points off the pace at the top of the table after leaders Stourbridge had a weekend off.
Darlington Mowden Park cemented their position in third with a 40-14 win away to struggling Stockport. The game was in the balance right up until the final 10 minutes when DMP produced a devastating four-try spell that brought them 28 points without reply.
Elsewhere, Pete Swatkins’ last-gasp try handed Sheffield Tigers a 28-20 victory away to Huddersfield. The home side put the previous week’s hammering at the hands of Birmingham & Solihull behind them to score three first-half tries and lead 17-7 at the interval. But tries from James Broadley and Alexander Graham shortly after the re-start – both converted by Tom Outram – put the Tigers in front, before Swatkins sealed the deal with his 16th try of the season.
Hull also had to battle from behind to beat Westoe, 34-30. In an entertaining game, Hull outscored the Shieldsmen six tries to four, two of them going to dangerous left wing James Wigglesworth.
A brace of tries from replacement Alex Austin proved the difference between Preston Grasshoppers and hosts Birmingham & Solihull at Portway. ‘Hoppers went on to win 19-16.
Otley also ground out a narrow victory on the road, winning 15-13 against Caldy in an abrasive encounter at Paton Field. No.8 Alex Ball got the all-important try nine minutes from time in an error-strewn contest played out on a heavy pitch.
Round 25 results
Caldy 13 - 15 Otley
Dudley Kingswinford 19 - 22 Hull Ionians
Huddersfield 20 - 28 Sheffield Tigers
Birmingham & Solihull 16 - 19 Preston Grasshoppers
Hull 34 - 30 Westoe
Stockport 14 - 40 Darlington Mowden Park
Round 26 fixtures, Saturday March 23
Birmingham & Solihull Vs. Stockport 14:00
Leicester Lions Vs. Hull 14:00
Westoe Vs. Bromsgrove 14:00
Darlington Mowden Park Vs. Stourbridge 14:15
Preston Grasshoppers Vs. Luctonians 14:30
Dudley Kingswinford Vs. Huddersfield 15:00
