NCL round-up: Celtic, Maroons and Sharks enjoy winning return to action
Second-placed Dewsbury Celtic were successful on their return to action in Division One of the National League.
Celtic ran out 44-20 winners against Wigan St Patricks as they scored 22 points in each half to maintain their title challenge.
St Pats recovered from 12-0 down to be only 12-10 behind with tries by Reece Rowcroft and Conor Taylor, plus a Jack Sproat goal.
But they were 22 points behind before Ben Harper crossed for their next score in the second half and 30 points adrift when Sproat grabbed a late consolation try which Taylor improved.
Joel Gibson led the scoring with two tries and five goals for Celtic, while Nat Lawrence got a try and a conversion and other touchdowns went to Lewis Teal, Billy Yarrow, Josh Frain, Casey Canterbury and Joe Mitchell.
In a fractious last 25 minutes, Pats had three men (Taylor, Matty Ellis and Adam O’Neill) sin-binned for dissent, while Celtic’s Alex Whiteholt (high tackle) and Gibson (dangerous tackle) were also yellow carded.
Dewsbury Moor Maroons looked to be in a battle with Egremont as they were level at 18-18 at half-time, but they stepped up a gear after the break to race away with the game, going on to to win 52-18 to keep up the pressure on the top two.
Louie Walker closed with 32 points from four tries and eight goals, Jake Butterfield crossed twice and Bradley Adams, Anthony Boardman and Mitchell Gray closed the account.
Rangers’ Connor Williams scored a hat-trick and Joe Lewis converted each, but the Cumbrians failed to extend a four-match winning run.
Moor make the short travel for a big derby at Dewsbury Celtic this Saturday.
Shaw Cross Sharks recorded a 36-12 away win over Oldham St Annes, who are now at the bottom of the table.
They were only 12-4 ahead at the interval before turning on the power in the second half.
Matt Whitehead’s conversions of tries by Kendal Davis and Lachlan Delbridge gave the Sharks their first half points.
And they duly registered a first win in four games with unanswered touchdowns after the break by Brad Wakenshaw, Harry Wharton, Jack Toulson, Spencer Rae, Harry Smith and Ben Land, plus four Evan Stephenson goals. Toulson had opened for the visitors.
This Saturday sees the Sharks hosting Stanningley.
Mirfield Spartans moved up to second in the Yorkshire Conference A with a 34-16 win at King Cross Park.