ASKAM marched on in their quest for a top-four place in the National Conference second division with this win over Leigh East.

However, the Villagers never had it all their own way as lowly East gave them a run for their money, never giving up the chase.

Askam went in at the break at 18-12, but adding a further 10 points in the 41st and 44th minutes eased matters.

The home side put the East under pressure from the kick-off with a defender failing to gather Kris Tyson’s kick. Askam mounted pressure but failed to cross the line.

It was at the other end the first points went on the board when scrum half Tom Worthington chipped the ball over the cover to re-gather. He moved the ball along the line for Ryan Lewis to score out wide. Worthington converted for 6-0.

Seven minutes later it was all-square following a fine 40-20 from Joe Sattherthwaite. He put the ball into touch 10 yards from the Leigh line.

Jake Spedding was then fouled in the tackle and from the resulting tap penalty Liam Saunders came crashing onto a long ball from Tom Wilkinson to score by the posts for Kris Tyson to convert.

Both lines came under attack but defences stood firm until the visitors regained the lead on 22 minutes.

Swift play along the line involving Worthington and centre Sam Grainey paved the way for dangerous winger Josh Adudwumaa to touch down in the corner. Worthington added the goal.

Askam came back with good attacking play from Tom Butler, Jack Cairns and Spedding. He put Satterthwaite into space but a fine tackle from full-back James Parkinson hauled him down.

Thirty-three minutes into the action and it was level pegging. Good handling resulted in Satterthwaite sending Spedding over the whitewash, with Tyson adding the goal for 12-12.

This spurred on the home side and within three minutes Tyson, Satterthwaite and Russ Bolton – coming into the line – enabled Tom Butler to score.

Two minutes into stoppage time following a minor skirmish Gary Bolton was sin-binned, and to round off the first period Tyson slotted over a penalty goal.

The second half was barely under way when a powerful run from Tom Hopkins saw him touch down, Tyson’s kick hitting the posts for 22-12.

With a further three minutes on the clock a neat kick to the corner from Satterthwaite saw Cairns waiting and he crossed with ease. This time Tyson made no mistake with his kick out wide for 28-12.

Leigh battled on and came close through substitute James Teixera before a long ball from Worthington saw Adudwumaaa knock-on close to the home line.

Then came the easiest of tries for the Villagers. A stab to the line saw winger Joshua Swift gather over his own line but he wasn’t alert as Brad Kavanagh snatched the ball from his grasp to plonk the ball down, Tyson adding the goal.

Kieron Shepherd then pulled off a try-saving tackle as centre Sam Grainey broke downfield.

However, the pressure mounted resulting in Worthington touching down and converting.

And to round off a good day’s work Tyson sent Hopkins in under the posts, with Tyson obliging with the kick.

IN the Cumbria League Walney came close to an away win at unbeaten leaders Hensingham, conceding a late converted try with the scores level at 30-30.

Cents led 14-10 at the break before finally losing 36-30.

The two teams meet in two weeks’ time at the Recreation Ground in the County Cup final.

Ulverston’s Josh Proctor suffered a broken leg in two places at Hindpool as the Brisbane Park side reached the final of the Barrow and District League’s Knockout Cup with a 26-24 win. Hindpool’s Jamie Lynn also visited Furness General Hospital with an injury.

In the other half of the draw Walney failed to raise enough players allowing Askam an easy passage into the final.