Leek took a big step towards league safety with a 19-22 win at fellow strugglers Kendal. In doing so, they leapfrogged their hosts to move up to ninth in Regional 1 North West.

A brace of tries from Kin Critchlow and another from Billy Kidd, plus two conversions and a penalty from Will Midwinter, were enough for the Moorlanders in another closely contested game with the Cumbrians.

The result means that the Moorlanders remain seven points clear of neighbours Stoke in 11th, with three games left to play. Leek host already-relegated Birkenhead Park next week, while Stoke visit Newport with games against fourth placed Wirral and leaders Rossendale to come.

The blue and whites fell behind early again, but kept Kendal out for the rest of the first half, Midwinter's penalty making it 7-3 at half-time. Kidd's try gave them the lead and Critchlow's first saw them extend it before the hosts closed the gap with a converted try.

Critchlow's second late in the game looked like it had guaranteed the win, and Kendal's last minute try wasn't enough to change the result.

A decent crowd at Altrad Park saw Andy Thompson's 2s maintain their lead at the top of Counties 3 Midlands West (North) with a 45-22 win over Cannock.

A big, physical Cannock side started aggressively, with two head-high hits penalised by the referee, one of which rightly saw a yellow card. The second of two deliberate defensive knock-ons saw Leek open the scoring with a penalty try.

Thankfully the visitors settled into their rugby and quickly hit back with a try. A crossfield kick from Jack Winfield found Harry Byrne on the left wing, and Wiffa's conversion from out wide made it 14-5. Another try from close range by Will Hill, who made the hard yards all game, saw the blue and whites take a 19-5 lead into half-time.

Byrne's second soon after the break secured the bonus point, and the Moorlanders cruised from there. Two tries from Conlon Newton-Taylor - the first a gallop from 40 metres out - and another from Sam Brereton were more than enough to see off the visitors. To their credit, Cannock never let their heads drop and scored three tries of their own to secure a losing bonus point.

With Newcastle earning their own bonus point win against bottom team Stoke, Leek remain tied on points with the Lilleshall Road outfit. Long-term leaders Barton suffered a surprise loss at Handsworth and are now eight points back with three games left to play.

To cap off a great day for the blue and whites, the Colts avenged a loss earlier in the season with a comprehensive 33-7 win over Longton, and the 3s won their Merit League game at Linley. Come on you blue boys!