ASKAM secured second place in National Conference Division Two and a home play-off tie with a 32-18 victory over Saddleworth at Fallowfield Park.

The Villagers left it late and it took a 70th-minute brawl to send them into fifth gear and pull away after the scores were locked at 18-apiece.

A touchline battle began with the majority of players from both sides involved and resulted in home player Sam Dowsett and Moors centre Ben Whitehead going into the bin.

A red card was shown to the visiting hooker Dale Lowe, who ran in from 20 yards to jump on top of the pile and throw punches.

The Villagers were awarded a penalty, which Dan Sayle sent between the posts, and the old head of Tom Butler engineered a try for Russ Bolton before touching down himself in the closing minute.

Saddleworth took the game to their hosts, going into a 10th-minute lead when prop Gareth Morgan fed Lowe, who span out of a tackle to put the ball down. Whitehead added the goal and the Oldham side were up and running.

Askam came back strongly without much joy, as Joe Dowsett sent Tom Butler to the line, followed by brother Jamie, who was held inches short.

On the 20-minute mark it was level-pegging, as Sam Dowsett stabbed the ball through the cover for Ben Lewney to pounce. Dowsett added the goal.

A half-chance went begging after Gary Bolton had made in-roads and a deep kick to the corner from Stu High went straight into touch.

A penalty goal for impeding in the tackle saw the visitors go into an 8-6 lead, with Whitehead on target.

Within three minutes, it was all-square again, with Dowsett kicking a goal after brother Joe had the ball ripped from his grasp.

Saddleworth then applied the pressure, with Gavin Dodd sending wing partner Lewis Adams close.

Askam turned defence into attack as half-time loomed, and quick hands from left to right saw Tom Goffatt wriggle out of a tackle to prise open a huge gap and race over. Dowsett’s kick hit the upright and it was 12-8 at the break.

Disaster struck for the home side in the first minute of the second half as Joe Satterthwaite failed to take the ball from the kick-off and it went straight into the arms of Lewney, who was in an offside position.

From the tap penalty, quick hands across the field saw winger Lewis Adams go in at the corner for 12-12.

A quick response was required, and Brad Kavanagh took play upfield, followed by a jinking Tom Butler run, but Saddleworth held out.

On 48 minutes the lead was back in the hands of the home side.

Sattherthwaite set up a raid, bringing Sam Dowsett and High into play, and it was High’s long pass that saw Lewney come on to the ball at pace to crash over. Dowsett tagged on the goal.

Saddleworth then put the home line under constant pressure, which they soaked up with great defensive work, the visitors only breaching the line when a long ball from scrum half Josh Bradbury sent winger James Adams sliding, but a forward pass to be ruled.

It was game-on on the hour, as the visitors drew level once more when stand-off Craig Farrimond stabbed the ball through the cover for Lowe to get the touch. Whitehead tagged on the goal.

Four minutes later saw the brawl on halfway, allowing Sayle to edge the home side back into the lead with his goal.

From the re-start, Joe Dowsett made good ground, from where Sattherthwaite released Russ Bolton. He went wide, parting to Tom Butler and his inside pass found Bolton, who crossed the white. Sayle added the extra two points and there was breathing space at 26-18.

Another raid saw Goffatt send Jack Cairns on a touchline dash before full-back Ethan Langhorn brought him down.

The pressure continued and swift play saw Russ Bolton send Tom Butler in at the corner. Sayle’s conversion sealed a well-earned victory over a big and robust Saddleworth outfit.

Millom put up a brave show against Myton at Devonshire Road in Division One before going down 28-16.

A try from Ethan Kelly, goaled by Lee Postlethwaite, saw the home side ahead at 6-0 before they trailed 14-6.

However, good play saw them back in the lead at 16-14, with tries coming from Marcus O'Brien and Postlethwaite, who added one goal.

The Humbersiders came back to run in 14 points without reply.

Ulverston rounded off their Cumbria League season with a 28-24 win over Wath Brow Hornets A at Dragley Beck.

Tries for the home side came from Steve O'Connor, Howard Lowrey, Mike Reekes, Matt Storey and Rowan Shields, with Connor Saunders adding four goals.

Hindpool came out second-best at home to Golbourne Parkside in North West Men’s Division One, losing 29-24.

Tries for the Tigers came via Connor McDermott, Jamie McIroy, Cameron Hayton and Stu Travers, with Grant Burns adding four goals.

Walney failed to raise a team in the Cumbria League and forfeited the points to Seaton.