Top two both go nap in title battle

Sheffield extended their score-point advantage over Malton and Norton at the top when they ran in five tries on their way to a 39-8 home victory over North Ribblesdale.

Sheffield went ahead in the first two minutes with a penalty from Donal Collins.

Steve Moon equalised for Ribblesdale four minutes later, but Sheffield were 15-3 clear by half-time as left winger Alex Hill and full-back Ewan Reed ran in tries, the latter converted by Collins.

Ryan Kirkbride, the Ribblesdale No 8, pulled back a try for the visitors but Sheffield moved clear again with Reed's second try and others from hooker Carl Mortimer and outside centre Joe Cribley.

Malton and Norton also scored five tries in their sixth straight win to keep on the pace with a 37-12 derby victory in front of a large crowd at York.

York scored all their points in the first half to turn round 12-10 ahead, but Malton took control with two tries each from centres Ryan Lonsdale and Tom Newitt.

Heath moved level with third-placed York when they gained a 21-10 win at bottom- placed Bradford Salem.

Matthew Hallett converted all three tries – one by himself and the others by Martin Moana and Simon Brown.

Bridlington moved ahead of their rivals as well as Ilkley and North Ribblesdale with an 18-13 home win over Knottingley.

Knottingley had led 13-12 through a converted try and two penalties by fly-half Steve Rockett, but Steve Mellonby's final two penalties for Bridlington saw them win.

Dinnington, after five straight defeats but four bonus points, gained their first win when they came from behind for a 21-17 home verdict over Ilkley.

Danny Wilkinson scored the first of his three penalties for Dinnington midway through the first half but a try by winger Puli Maka'afi, converted by Kirk Arundita, saw Ilkley turn round 7-6 ahead.

No 8 Hamish Pratt also scored a try for the visitors before second-row Paul Mitchell scored Dinnington's first, and after full-back James Marsden had scored for the home side, Ilkley outside centre Stuart Vincent scored.

Castleford scraped a 15-14 home win over Keighley, despite the visitors scoring the only try.

Selby ran out 31-19 winners over Scarborough with a five-try display. Winger Ollie Sanders and scrum-half Andy Bennett touched down for Selby in the first half, but they were 12-10 behind with Deina Morete and Jason Lowde scoring for Scarborough, and Philip Stewart converting.

Selby went on to win with furthe tries from No 8 Rob Taylor, prop Andrew Pocklington and centre Shaun Austerfield. Chris Lee added a late try for the visitors.