The Moorlanders move to 41 points - just one behind eighth-placed Blackburn and ten clear of Stoke. Crucially, it was Leek's seventh win of the season and they also have a superior points difference to the Barlaston boys, who have just four wins.

So even if Stoke were to secure bonus point wins in their last two games, against fourth-placed Wirral and leaders Rossendale, it wouldn't be enough for them to overhaul the blue and whites.

Leek kept a bumper Altrad Park on edge with their usual slow start, falling behind in the first few minutes and conceding again ten minutes later to make it 0-14. A converted Noah Reaney try and another from Will Midwinter pulled the hosts back into the match and made it 12-14 at the break.

Kin Critchlow gave them the lead early in the second period, only for the visitors to snatch it back shortly after. But it was mostly one-way traffic from then on. Reaney claimed his second and Critchlow went one better with a hat-trick to see Leek pull clear. Birkenhead, already relegated after a tough season, had the last word with a bonus point try, but it was the blue boys' day as they guaranteed level five rugby for a third successive season.

Meanwhile, Andy Thompson's high-flying 2s claimed a hat-trick of hat-tricks as they put 80 points past Burton 3s at Battlestead Croft. The returning Josh Cartlidge got Leek on the board in the tenth minute and Jake Green, Jack Bray and Harry Byrne also crossed the whitewash to make it 3-28 at half-time.

The game continued in a similar vein in the second period, with Cartlidge, Bray and Byrne completing their hat-tricks. Harry Evans chipped in with one for the forwards and Jack Fryer also scored, with Burton mustering just one try in response to make it 8-80 at the final whistle.

Leek remain top of the table, tied on points with Newcastle, who got their own bonus point win at Cannock. Leek have a superior points difference, but will need to win both of their remaining games - home to Aldridge followed by a tricky-looking visit to Eccleshall. Newcastle play Burton and finish the season at Aldridge.

It wasn't all plain sailing for the blue boys. The Colts lost in a topsy-turvy game at Matlock, going 10-0 down before scoring three unanswered tries to lead 10-19, then conceding four but claiming the final score to make it a 34-26 thriller. The 3s lost heavily to Longton.