Derby victory for Ovenden

In a match littered with handling errors in persistent rain, the hosts took the lead on 12 minutes, Michael Joyce touching down for a converted try.

Illingworth responded almost immediately, Luke Sutcliffe regathering his own short kick off and setting the platform for an assault on the opposition line.

From a penalty the ball was shifted right and Sutcliffe found Dez Morris, who dummied his way over. Sutcliffe converted to level the scores.

Ovenden regained the lead as the half hour approached, Harry Bromyard finishing a neat handling move with a touchdown near the corner flag.

A minute from the break the lead was extended to 16-6, impressive Jake Kennedy out-pacing the cover to gather a sixth tackle kick and go behind the posts.

Two minutes after the break the visitors cut the deficit to four points. They went close on the left and when the ball was quickly moved to the right Adam Millns finished in the corner. Sutcliffe converted from the touchline.

Kennedy restored the 12 point advantage three minutes later, scooting in from dummy half for a converted try.

With the slope now in their favour Illingworth pressed the home line, only to be denied by loose handling.

As the hour mark passed they finally managed to put together a passing move involving Sutcliffe and Scott Allen to put Millns over in the left hand corner.

Joyce capped Ovenden’s hard-earned win with 10 minutes remaining, crossing in the corner for an unconverted try.