Rishies climb the table

They scored five tries in the re-arranged match and it should have been more, even though they were starved of possession for long periods.

In the first quarter they got precious little ball, but the visitors never looked like breaking through their defence.

Each time Rishworthians broke away they looked likely to score with some flowing moves, most of which started with strong runs from No 8 Nick Faulkner.

A powerful scrum, in which they pushed their heavier opponents off the ball, brought another drive from Faulkner and when the ball came out some quick passing ended with flanker Gerard Rollings putting right wing Matthew Hunt-Brown in at the corner.

Stand-off Josh Kelly kicked an excellent conversion.

Faulkner was dominant against the Thornensians forwards, while teenage centre Sam Nunn was constantly making inroads among the backs.

Faulkner was there again and sent Ed Cockroft off on a great jinking run. The scrum half might have gone himself, but selflessly sent the ball to left wing Anthony Shoesmith, coming inside on the burst, for a fine try.

Kelly converted and then stretched the lead to 17-0 with a penalty.

Shoesmith was almost in again to end the half and then straight from the restart, when he was called back for a knock-on.

He also had a hand in the next try, being stopped just short but managing to get the ball away to the supporting Kelly, who dived over in the corner and then converted his own try.

Thornensians came back strongly and were threatening the home line, but then lost the ball. Rollings picked it up and put Shoesmith away on an 80-yard run to score in the corner.

The visitors hit back and this time the home defence was found lacking as Thornensians scored a converted try.

Kelly kicked a second penalty, but Thornensians came back again with their scrum half darting over for a converted try after a melee on the home line.

Rishworthians were on top in the last 10 minutes even with 14 men after Cockroft had been yellow-carded for what was ruled a deliberate knock-on.

The last try came after great inter passing, including two fine off-loads from captain Fraser Swarbrooke and replacement prop Ryan Mudd, which allowed Nunn to cruise in. Kelly converted.

The Development team had a brilliant 27-17 away win over Otley seconds, with Lee Atkinson getting a hat trick of tries and one conversion, and other tries by Jacob Bower and Rhys Town.

The newly formed Return 2 Rugby side also cruised to victory over Heath thirds, by 51-0.

There were two tries each for Chris Flanagan and Josh Illingworth, and others from Chris Cowie, Ian Teasdale, John Egoni, Martin Sykes, and a penalty try. Sam Greenwood kicked two conversions and Sykes one.