In a tight contest on Merseyside, the 1st XV rallied from a 21-7 halftime deficit to triumph 21-26 against Wirral. Two tries from scrum half James Milan and a classic run from 100-cap man Jack Newton-Taylor stole the points from the hosts, but victory was secured only after a heroic goal-line stand in the closing minutes.

It had threatened to be a very different story in the first period. After a scoreless first quarter, Wirral opened the scoring on 23 minutes. A yellow card for Joel Booth was immediately punished with another score to make it 14-0. Joe Gorman quickly pulled one back only for the Merseysiders to claimed their third score and restore their advantage at the break.

But this season's Moorlanders are made of tough stuff and they shut out the hosts in the second period. The comeback started with the try of the day, Elliot Anderson's strong drive setting up Joe Byrne's break to feed Milan for the score. Centurion Jack's score and Milan's second gave Leek the double over Wirral this season.

The maximum five points for the blue and whites sees them move level on points with fourth placed Stockport, who lost at home to title-chasing Huddersfield, in Regional 1 North West.

It was a similar story at St Edward's Park, as the 2s twice rallied from a ten point deficit to claim a bonus point win over visitors Burton.

Taine Goddard's try, converted by Jake Farr-Green, kept things close at the half, 7-10. In a much more open second period, tries from Harry Byrne, Lee Williams and debutant Tom Barrass gave Leek the lead. But a strong young Burton outfit rallied to reclaim the lead, 22-24.

Late scores from Ben Wood and Kin Critchlow claimed the lead back and the Moorlanders resisted a late surge from the visitors to claim a 36-31 bonus point win.