St. Benedict's beat Altrincham Kersal to register back-to-back victories in North One West

Saints are starting to see the return of players to first-team duty and, although still short of a full squad to pick from, it was evident from the first 30 minutes some of the form displayed early in the season is returning.

From the kick-off, it was Saints who tore into the action, moving quick ball out wide and keeping the home defence working overtime.

From an Altrincham line-out on their own 22 , they fumbled the play and Saints were awarded a scrum feed. From it, number eight Steven Nelson, who had a superb game throughout, broke from the base to feed his scrum half Gordon Maudling, who raced clear to score the opening try which Steve Wood converted.

The visitors didn’t let up and great work from Gavin Maudling in the middle of the park broke the home line. The ball was quickly recycled and spread wide, where Wood fed Kyle Hiddleston who put new recruit Martin O’Neill in at the corner.

On the odd occasion their defence was tested, Saints more than coped before a lovely cross field kick from Hiddleston turned defence into attack.

Saints retained the ball and a couple of forward drives into the middle saw the ball eventually swept left, where Wood put in an outstanding cross kick into the corner for O’Neill to collect and score his second try.

In a rare forage into the Saints half, the hosts were awarded a penalty for a high tackle and reduced the deficit with the kick.

But Saints went again and their fourth try came from playmaker Wood. With Altrincham in possession, the veteran player-coach read the pass, intercepted and raced away to score under the posts. He then added the conversion.

Altrincham put together a succession of forward drives which saw them take play towards the Saints' line. They went down the blindside and got over in the corner, adding the conversion.

But the final score of the half went to Saints after the ball was moved from the back of the scrum by Nelson. He again linked well with Gordon Maudling who raced clear and fed winger Andrew Middleton to go over in the corner.

They went in at half-time leading 29-10 and with a bonus point already in the bag.

The second half was a bit of a come down from the opening half as Altrincham came more into the game and Saints had Gordon Maudling sin-binned for a team yellow card. Their defence was awesome in this ten-minute period as they repeatedly denied the home side.

Generally, the game was not allowed to flow and a succession of penalties to both teams stifled any flowing rugby.

The only points of the half came from a chip and chase from Altrincham which yielded a converted try.

In North One East, Penrith had George Graham to thank for keeping their challenge at the top of the table on track with a bonus point win over Malton and Norton.

It finished 38-31 but, for large parts of the game, they looked second best as they struggled to contain mid-table opposition.

It was only Graham's ability to pick the pockets of the visitors that kept his side in contention throughout.

Malton started well and their pack had the home side under pressure from the off and were deep in the home 22 when their efforts were thwarted when they were penalised by the referee.

Graham was alive to the situation, took the penalty quickly and seeing the winger out of position from the previous play, chipped the ball in behind the visiting backs for Ben Littleton to chase. He took the ball cleanly and tore into the opposition half, he angled his run in and then swerved out again to leave the defenders flat footed and scored the try. Mike Fearon added the conversion.

Penrith were soon on the scoreboard again from a quickly taken Graham penalty, this time on half way. Again he chipped the ball in behind the first line of defence for Littleton to chase, the ball bounced and evaded Littleton but it sat up nicely for Graham also in pursuit and he took it on the run, shrugged off a couple of tackles and ran in for the try.

Penrith were soon under the cosh after they made a hash of the restart and conceded a penalty which was kicked to the corner for an attacking lineout.

They eventually got over for a push-over try and then scored a fine try through their speedy full-back. With both converted, they led 14-12.

There was little between the sides apart from the set scrum and Penrith got their lead back after a penalty kicked to the visitor's 22.

They won the line-out and the forwards set up the driven maul, before having a few pick and goes before Graham spotted the gap on the edge of the ruck and sniped down the fringe to score his second try. Fearon added the conversion for a 19-14 lead at the break.

Penrith started the second period well and went two scores ahead when the Malton backs spilt the ball wide out. Graham was on hand to snap up the ball and set Jonny Wills away down on the right wing.

He had a clear run to the line and got in at the corner as the cover closed in on him. Fearon converted for 12-point lead.

Malton came back strongly and, after a series of penalties, gave them field position they were awarded a penalty try and the gap was back down to one score again.

Graham was then instrumental in setting up the next score. He ran the ball laterally from the breakdown and set up Matt Allinson who came with pace from deep and hit the line hard bursting clean through. He then gathered himself to draw the last man and set up Harlan Corrie for a try by the posts.

Penrith were again two scores ahead but the visitors struck back and they scored their fourth try after applying pressure deep in the home 22.

It was end to end stuff and Penrith went two scores ahead again after winning turnover ball in the opposition half, Graham fed Callum Rowlandson who could see it was on out wide.

He found Allinson who spun a wide ball out to Littleton who went for the corner with all he had, he was pulled down a yard short but his momentum took him over the line.

With five minutes to go, that looked to be it but Malton came back one last time and scored with the last play of the game.

They went home with a losing bonus point to add to their four-try bonus point and no one in the Penrith camp would deny they deserved it.