The twists and turns in the race for the National Conference League Premier Division’s Leader’s Shield continue to surprise.

Wath Brow Hornets now lead by two points from West Hull and, although having a game in hand, the Humbersiders have a much inferior points differential.

Wath Brow didn’t have it easy at struggling Rochdale Mayfield but they earned a 25-12 win.

A Karl Dixon try was Wath Brow’s only score in the first half when they trailed 6-4.

But Mayfield had Zak Hartley sin-binned just before half-time and Wath Brow made them pay with tries from Jamie Devine and Charlie Tomlinson, converted by Fran King.

King stretched the Hornets’ lead with a penalty but Rochdale came back with a try from Luke Fowden which Cole Connolly converted.

Wath Brow pulled away in the closing stages with a field goal from Dixon and a try and conversion from King.

Kells look doomed with six games to play and they went down 44-6 at neighbours Egremont, who consolidated their play-offs prospects in fourth.

It was 12-0 in the opening 14 minutes through tries by John Paul Brocklebank and Matty Henson, both converted by Brocklebank.

It stayed like that until Kieran Glenn scored in the 47th minute and five minutes later Brocklebank grabbed his second. He also converted both.

Kells rallied with a try from Scott Lofthouse which Ross Gainford converted but Egremont ran away with it in the final quarter.

They scored four more tries from Glenn, Fraser McNee, Michael Ellwood and Matthew Bewsher, two of which were converted by Brocklebank.