newspaper2020

National Conference League Is Underway

By Robert Haile

A day amateur rugby league clubs have been waiting for since 2020 when COVID-19 brought the season to a close.

The National Conference Leagues kicked off this weekend, March Saturday 5.

Cumbria’s seven teams got off to a mixed start in their divisions.

In the Premier Division Wath Brow Hornets got off to a winning start running out to a 36-20 win over Lock Lane.

Egremont Rangers found their opening game tougher as they went down 28-0 to Hunslet Club Parkside.

In the other games Leigh Miners Rangers beat Pilkington Recs 22-4 while York Acorn lost 36-10 at Rochdale Mayfield, Thatto Heath Crusaders ran out 32-14 winners at home to Siddal with West Hull starting their 2019 title defence with a 24-6 win away to Thornhill Trojans.

Kells, Featherstone Lions, Myton Warriors and Saddleworth Rangers will have to wait to start their Division One season until next week after the games were postponed.

Oulton Rangers sit top after a 30-16 win at Milford with Wigan St Patricks sitting second with a 28-14 victory over Ince Rose Bridge, West Bowling are third with a 24-16 home win over Stanningley and Skirlaugh completing the fourth game with a close 10-8 win against Hull Dockers.

Division Two had two games fall with Dewsbury Celtic’s game against Bradford Dudley Hill and Heworth’s match with Dewsbury Moor Maroons called off.

Cumbria’s representative Barrow Island went down to a 28-18 defeat at Crosfield after fighting back to 18-18, Hunslet Warriors lead the way with a 28-14 win over Beverley with Normanton Knights close behind after their 22-10 victory over Wigan St Judes.

Clock Face Miners came out on top away to Woolston Rovers in a close 20-24 match.

The new boys in Division Three showed they will be no push overs as Seaton Rangers ran in 42 unanswered points against Eastmoor Dragons to sit top while Bentley beat Hensingham 24-6.

East Leeds beat Drighlington 48-10 to sit second while Batley Boys are third with a 22 victory over Millom, Leigh East squeezed home a 24-22 win over Shaw Cross Sharks.

Two sides will have to wait until next week as Waterhead Warriors and Oldham St Annes game was called off.

Premier Division Results

Leigh Miners Rangers 22 – 4 Pilkington Recs

Wath Brow Hornets 36 – 20 Lock Lane

Rochdale Mayfield 36 – 10 York Acorn

Thatto Heath Crusaders 32 – 14 Siddal

Thornhill Trojans 6 – 24 West Hull

Egremont Rangers 0 – 28 Hunslet Club Parkside

Premier Division Table

  1. Hunslet Club Parkside – 2
  2. Rochdale Mayfield – 2
  3. Leigh Miners Rangers – 2
  4. Thatto Heath Crusaders – 2
  5. West Hull – 2
  6. Wath Brow Hornets – 2
  7. Lock Lane – 0
  8. Pilkington Recs – 0
  9. Siddal – 0
  10. Thornhill Trojans – 0
  11. York Acorn – 0
  12. Egremont Rangers – 0

Division One Results

West Bowling 24 – 16 Stanningley

Featherstone Lions P – P Kells

Milford 16 – 30 Oulton Raiders

Myton Warriors P – P Saddleworth Rangers

Skirlaugh 10 – 8 Hull Dockers

Wigan St Patricks 28 – 14 Ince Rose Bridge

Division One Table

  1. Oulton Raiders – 2
  2. Wigan St Patricks – 2
  3. West Bowling – 2
  4. Skirlaugh – 2
  5. Featherstone Lions – 0
  6. Kells – 0
  7. Myton Warriors – 0
  8. Saddleworth Rangers – 0
  9. Hull Dockers – 0
  10. Stanningley – 0
  11. Ince Rose Bridge – 0
  12. Milford – 0

Division Two Results

Crosfields 28 – 18 Barrow Island

Dewsbury Celtic P – P Bradford Dudley Hill

Heworth P – P Dewsbury Moor Maroons

Hunslet Warriors 28 – 14 Beverley

Normanton Knights 22 – 10 Wigan St Judes

Woolston Rovers 20 – 24 Clock Face Miners

Division Two Table

  1. Hunslet Warriors – 2
  2. Normanton Knights – 2
  3. Crosfields – 2
  4. Clock Face Miners – 2
  5. Bradford Dudley Hill – 0
  6. Dewsbury Celtic – 0
  7. Dewsbury Moor Maroons – 0
  8. Heworth – 0
  9. Woolston Rovers – 0
  10. Barrow Island – 0
  11. Wigan St Judes – 0
  12. Beverley – 0

Division Three Results

Batley Boys 22 – 0 Millom

Bentley 24 – 6 Hensingham

East Leeds 48 – 10 Drighlington

Leigh East 24 – 22 Shaw Cross Sharks

Seaton Rangers 42 – 0 Eastmoor Dragons

Waterhead Warriors P – P Oldham St Annes

Division Three Table

  1. Seaton Rangers – 2
  2. East Leeds – 2
  3. Batley Boys – 2
  4. Bentley – 2
  5. Leigh East – 2
  6. Oldham St Annes – 0
  7. Waterhead Warriors – 0
  8. Shaw Cross Sharks – 0
  9. Hensingham – 0
  10. Millom – 0
  11. Drighlington – 0
  12. Eastmoor Dragons – 0