Rugby

Old Crossleyans maintained their unbeaten start to the season with an 18-13 home win over Old Brodleians but were pushed all the way in a hard fought and keenly contested match.

Heath had a comfortable 34-7 home win over derby rivals Old Rishworthians yesterday, taking control with 27 unanswered points in the second quarter of the contest.

Rishworthians go into the second local derby of the Yorkshire One season keen to repeat last season’s success.

Old Brodleians will travel the short distance to Standeven House, Halifax, to take on newly-promoted Old Crossleyans for their second local derby of the season on Saturday afternoon.

LEEDS RHINOS have four players named in the England Knights squad to tour Papua New Guinea via Brisbane later this month.

Ovenden’s Pennine League title defence got off to an unexpected start at Upton on Saturday.

Heath’s three-match winning run was ended at Pontefract where they were given a lesson in finishing in a 30-18 defeat by opponents who took five league points to their nil.

Old Crossleyans maintained their unbeaten record in Yorkshire One but their performance in a 27-15 win at Selby lacked the cohesion and continuity which marked the previous week’s outstanding win against Middlesbrough.

Old Rishworthians put in a blistering first half performance to set up a 46-14 home win over Hullensians and move up to mid-table in Yorkshire One.

Old Brodleians settled the nerves of their rookie coach Ollie Akroyd with an emphatic 44-13 home win over Dinnington in the Woodhead sunshine yesterday.

St Helens duo Ben Barba and James Roby plus Wigan Warriors’ John Bateman are shortlisted for the 2018 Steve Prescott Man of Steel award - with Castleford Tigers’ Jake Trueman and Leeds Rhinos’ Jack Walker in the running for Super League’s Young Player of the Year.

OVENDEN start their Pennine League Championship title defence with a trip to play Upton on Saturday.

Old Brodleians’ run of success at Shay Lane was ended when they lost 42-20 to Bradford Salem in Saturday’s Yorkshire One contest.

Old Crossleyans maintained their unbeaten start to the season with a comprehensive 45-19 home victory against Middlesbrough, who had led the Yorkshire One table going into the game.

Rishworthians lost 29-17 Beverley yesterday with the damage done in the first 20 minutes when their hosts scored four unanswered tries.

HEATH made it three wins in a row, after their opening day defeat at Middlesbrough, with a display full of character in a 28-26 home success against Moortown yesterday.