Honours even in derby clash as Maroons fight back against Celtic
Dewsbury Celtic lost top spot in Division One of the National League after the spoils were shared in a thrilling local derby with Dewsbury Moor Maroons.
An 18-18 draw allowed Kells to regain pole position, narrowly on points difference, as they beat Oulton Raiders in their game.
The Maroons are four points back in third so cannot now finish higher with just one fixture remaining.
Celtic had looked on course to extend a seven-match winning run and do the double over Moor – after beating them 22-18 in another thriller at home victory – when an 18-6 lead had been established by the 55th minute with Jordan Hirst’s conversions of tries by their man of the match Joel Gibson, Nath Lawrence and Dylan Kindelan.
But the Maroons, who had opened with a Louie Walker try, hit back on the hour with a Matthew Race effort and, despite having Jackson Walker sin-binned on 64 minutes for a late tackle, they levelled eight minutes from time as George Woodcock touched down and Walker added his third goal.
Celtic now face Kells at home this Saturday in a game that will decide who are champions. The Maroons travel to Wigan St Patrick’s.
Shaw Cross Sharks ended a four-match losing run by inflicting an eighth successive defeat on Wigan St Patrick’s, who had won 24-12 at Clarington Park.
This time the Sharks led 18-0 on 28 minutes, thanks to tries by Arian Woods, Paul Chitakunye and Ben Jeffers.
Pats made the most of the sin-binning of Spencer Rae for a professional foul by posting tries before the break from Ronan Bradbury and Fraser Steeel, with Jack Sproat’s goals reducing the half-time deficit to 18-12.
But Shaw Cross posted touchdowns in the second period for Nathan Wright, Harry Smith and Jack Toulson, with Evan Stephenson completing a five-goal haul.
Jeffers was sin-binned for a professional foul and Pats took advantage of their extra man to score a consolation try through Connor Taylor.
The Sharks are away to Leigh Miners Rangers this Saturday.
Thornhill Trojans signed off on their Cross Conference Group D play-offs group with a strong victory over Barrow Island.
Both teams had lost their first two play-off games, but it was Thornhill who were to run out clear winners by 24 points to nil to finish third in the group.
Mirfield Spartans were also victorious as they defeated Dalton 58-22 in their Cross Conference Group B game to round off their encouraging season at this level.
Despite the victory they were unlucky to miss out on the quarter-finals as they finished in third place in the group, behind Blackbrook and Newsome Panthers only on points difference with all three teams claiming four points.