Sheffield Tigers roar to title with eight-try victory

With second placed Wirral suffering a surprise 20-12 defeat at Cleckheaton, the Dore Moor club are now 20 points clear with only three league games remaining.

Outside centre Liam Wallace scored a hat-trick of tries, while others came from prop Will Bennett, flanker Steve Walker, full-back Pete Swatkins and winger Henri Packard, while Mark Ireland was in great kicking form, adding most of the conversions and a penalty.

“We only needed five points, but with Wirral losing that meant they can’t catch us and we’ve won the league, so it was a momentous day for us,” said head coach Thiu Barnard.

“Now we’ve got Sheffield in the Yorkshire Cup on Wednesday which is an important game for us, and then Hull on Saturday, so it’s an important week for us.

“We don’t want to lose now, we want to keep on winning and build momentum and give ourselves a good start for next season in national Two.”

Third-placed Sheffield RUFC were pushed all the way but triumphed 17-13 at home to next-to-bottom Birkenhead Park. Sheffield went ahead with an early try by winger Alastair Womack, converted by Joe Cribley.

However, the visitors equalised before half time and then edged in front with a penalty before Sheffield scored again through centre Owen Smith. Cribley converted to make it 14-10, and a Birkenhead penalty was matched by Cribley almost with the last kick of the game.

More good news for Sheffield was that Firwood Waterloo, previously just one league point behind them, were hammered 41-23 at mid-table Billingham.

Dinnington were without six first team regulars at Morpethand although their replacements put in a good shift, they were beaten 22-16..

Dinnington had tries from Mikey Leitch and Johnny West who also added two penalties.#

Joe Earp scored two first half tries to help Wath on Dearne to a 19-10 win over Knottingley in Yorkshire Two on Saturday.

Jack Whitlam added conversions at both times of asking and a third try from Andy Hopkin 20 minutes from time sealed the win.

Barnsley suffered a crushing 52-0 defeat at the hands of Yorkshire Two leaders West Leeds. Winger Mark Calderwood was the star, running in four of their eight tries.

Sheffield Medicals were narrow 37-34 winners over higher-placed Roundhegians in Yorkshire Two, while two pushover tries by No 8 Ben Brown from five-metre scrums helped Stocksbridge to a 34-3 home win over Bramley Phoenix in Yorkshire Three.

In Yorkshire Four Sheffield Oaks were narrow 20-17 winners over Hessle, while Rotherham Clifton lost out 13-36 at home against Leeds Corinthians and Mosborough were beaten 62-5 at Skipton.