Wath Brow Hornets lost their unbeaten record in the National Conference Premier when they went down 48-4 at Thatto Heath Crusaders.

It was a highly-impressive performance by the St Helens side who, like the Hornets, had boasted a 100 per cent record at kick-off.

On their return to the top flight, Thatto have looked championship material and their clashes with reigning champions Siddal promise to be title deciders.

Wath Brow had travelled with plenty of confidence but it was all over by half-time when the Crusaders had established a 30-0 lead.

The Hornets were undone by a first-half hat-trick from second-row forward Jamie Tracey, while ex-Workington Town loanee winger Paddy Flynn excelled in a new role of hooker.

Other first-half tries for Thatto Heath were scored by substitute Danny Davies and winger Louis Taylor. The first three were converted by full-back Dan Birkett and, after he was injured, Bobbie Goulding took on kicking duties and landed two.

Three minutes after the restart, prop Mike Stark continued the Crusaders points feast and it wasn’t until the 57th minute that hooker Nathan Lucock went over for the Brow for an unconverted try.

But it was business as usual for Thatto Heath with two more tries from centre Adam Saunders in the 67th and 70th minutes, with Goulding landing the conversions.

Kells returned to winning ways, and in doing so, took the scalp of high-flying West Hull 18-16.

That represented a good comeback by the Whitehaven side as they were 12-4 down at the interval and survived a late scare when West Hull missed a conversion which would have levelled the score.

The visitors went in front after 11 minutes with a try by prop Ryan Wilson, which was converted by Louis Crowther.

It took Kells until the 30th minute to get on the score sheet when centre Craig Benson crashed through the West Hull defence for an unconverted try.

But Wests scored their second try just before the change round when substitute Elliot Windley crossed and, this time, scrum-half Scott Parti converted.

On 54 minutes, Kells reduced the arrears when scrum-half Dominic Wear crossed and then they went ahead when loose forward Tony Burns made the line. Ross Gainford converted both tries.

With 10 minutes left, Gainford added a penalty, which proved so important when Sam Cator scored a late try for West Hull but the conversion attempt failed.

Egremont always had a hard task in collecting their first win at home to Siddal as the reigning champions are determined to stay in touch with early pace-setters Thatto Heath.

So it proved as Egremont remain bottom of the table without a point after a 38-12 defeat.

Siddal scored nine tries and were looking comfortable at half-time when they enjoyed a 20-0 lead with touchdowns from Zak McComb (2), Taniela Bakosa, Joe Martin and Tom Garratt, none of which were converted.

In fact, only one of the nine tries was improved, Craig Sanderson adding to Martin’s second try 15 minutes from the end.

The other tries were scored by Martin, for his hat-trick, Dominic Booth and Kyle Ackroyd.

Egremont kept going to the end, however, and they scored tries in the last quarter from centre Jack Stainton and winger Ryan Barnes. Matty Bewsher converted one.