By Robert Haile

The top of the regional leagues are almost concluded as four teams sit clear at the top of the three divisions.

In Regional 1 North West the battle for promotion swung one way on Saturday, February 17, as Rossendale lost 34-33 to Stockport as Macclesfield ran out 41-5 winners against Leek.

Third placed Blackburn won 15-21 at Penrith while in the fight for fourth Wirral stay in pole position with a 13-31 win at Northwich as Manchester beat 29-14 Sandbach and Kendal lost out 5-28 to Anselmians.

The league takes a break before heading into the final four matches with the first on Saturday, March 2.

New league leaders Macclesfield head to third placed Blackburn while second placed Rossendale host Manchester.

Wirral welcome Kendal while Penrith head to Anselmians and Sandbach face Northwich.

In the Regional 2 North leaders Percy Park beat Durham City 43-7 on February 17 to continue their march to the title as Northern were 50-10 winners at home to Morpeth while Middlesbrough took third with a 29-5 win over West Hartlepool.

In the mid-table battle Consett lost 29-19 at Aspatria and Stockton were beaten 27-17 at Keswick while Cockermouth were beaten 12-29 by Upper Eden.

Percy Park head to Stockton on March 2 while Northern make the trip to Consett knowing they need to win to take the title to the next round of games.

In the fight for third Middlesbrough head to Durham City as the pair battle it out, Aspatria head to West Hartlepool while Upper Eden welcome Keswick and Cockermouth are on the road to Morpeth.

Leaders Birkenhead Park will have to make the trip to Douglas (I.O.M) at a later date after the game was postponed in Regional 2 North West.

Crewe & Nantwich beat Bowden 20-10 and Firwood Waterloo moved into second with a 34-27 win against Burnage on February 17.

At the bottom Liverpool St Helens won 23-17 at home to Whitchurch as Kirkby Lonsdale beat Altrincham Kersal 24-5 to close the gap to five points between the two and in the mid-table battle Vale of Lune moved into fifth with a 39-10 win against Winnington Park.

Birkenhead Park can almost start thinking about next season with a win at home to Firwood Waterloo on March 2 while Bowden host Douglas (I.O.M) as Crewe & Nantwich will hope to close the gap with a win at Winnington Park.

In the lead of the chasing pack Vale of Lune will want to keep top spot with a victory at Whitchurch as Burnage host Kirkby Lonsdale and Liverpool St Helens will be wanting a result at home to Altrincham Kersal.

In the Cumbria League Champions Carlisle left their penultimate game at Creighton with a 6-24 win on February 17 as second placed Wigton won 5-13 at Hawcoat Park while St Benedicts beat Aspatria 2nd 38-7.

Whitehaven dropped to fifth after a 28-3 loss to Penrith 2nd as Egremont moved in fourth despite a 24-23 loss at Keswick 2nd and Workington moved off the foot of the table with a 27-18 win at home to Millom.

In their final game Carlisle take on Aspatria on March 2 while Millom finish their season at home to Egremont and Creighton face a trip to Penrith 2nds to finish off.

Whitehaven take on St Benedicts with the winner taking third place and Windermere play Hawcoat Park.