Siddal hit back strongly

The Chevinedge side, who were retaining top spot in the Premier on points difference from West Hull, had to do it the hard way after a poor first 40 minutes left them 19-6 adrift.

However, they came through strongly with the help of a man of the match display from prop Tom Garratt, who rounded off victory with a length-of-the field effort for his second try.

Garratt had drawn first blood after 10 minutes, touching down after Ross White had shrugged off three tacklers to make a break. Gareth Blackburn added the first of six conversions.

Siddal then struggled after a week off.

The visitors from St Helens drew level on 14 minutes through Jamie Tracey, Sean Leicester converting.

Jack Jones gave Thatto Heath the lead on 22 minutes and Tracey added the conversion to that try and one from Darren Wood on 35 minutes, after Siddal had been penalised for a high tackle.

Jones’s drop goal on the stroke of half time left Siddal with a mountain to climb.

Gareth Greenwood’s men were up to the task.

Blackburn missed a golden chance when he knocked on Richard Lopag’s pass, following a Danny Williams break, but Siddal got their second try on 52 minutes when Scott Caley claimed the ball from a high ball.

The kick was missed but Siddal got right back in it when hooker Sean McCormack dived over the whitewash on 59 minutes and Blackburn’s goal made it 16-19.

The pressure was starting to get to Heath, who put the re-start out of play on the full.

Danny Keane muscled past three defenders on 63 minutes to give the home side the lead.

Blackburn converted and added the goal points to three more Siddal tries in the last 10 minutes.

Shaun Garrod sent in Caley and then scored himself before Garratt burst through a couple of tackles for his long-range finale.

Ovenden were being held 12-12 at half time by rock bottom Stanningley at Four Fields in Division Two.

Gareth English’s men then got their act together and ran out 58-12 winners to take fourth place in the table.

There was a hat-trick of tries for centre Jason Dodd and fellow backs Greg Firth (two), Shaun Smith and Sean Dyson also touched down.

Prop Ash Taylor, replacement Chris Geoghegan and second row Nathan Smith, who also kicked eight goals, were forwards who go on the scoresheet.

The other two points came the boot of stand off Niall Brady.

Ovenden are just below Elland, who resisted a second half fightback from hosts Leigh East to win 38-24.

Karl Fairbank’s men romped into a 32-0 lead against the next-to-bottom side but then saw the former Premier outfit eat into their advantage.

Elland got through with the help of an 18-point haul from their man of the match Caryci Pearson. The prop scored two tries and kicked five goals.

Chris Dyson, Oliver Fairbank, Brad Radcliffe, Chris Cullimore and Tom Harnett also got the ball over the line.