BARROW Island made a welcome return to the National Conference League with a comprehensive 40-12 victory over Elland at Rating Lane.

Island were never in any danger of losing, going into a 18-0 lead inside fourteen minutes with enterprising rugby.

Island took the game to the West Yorkshire side, going ahead in the sixth minute when free-flowing passing involving Matt Parkinson, Ian Irvine and Jake Carter enabled Sam Jones to sweep in at the corner. The conversion came via the boot of Carter for 6-0.

Carl McBain, in his first outing since returning to the club from Walney Central, was next on the scoresheet, taking a neat pass from the creative Jamie Curtis to score. Carter adding the goal to make it 12-0 and Island were up and running.

It was soon 18-0 following a tap penalty for a high tackle, as Island drove downfield at speed and Curtis came in from dummy-half, with Carter obliging with the goal.

Elland rarely had ball in hand as Island were on fire, but the visitors did go close when, after hooker Scott Bradley stabbed the ball over Island's line, Lee Haney was on hand to push the ball dead.

Another raid was snuffed out when Irvine stole the ball from winger Harry Fairbank, who was about to cross the line.

At the other end, McBain sent Matty Sayle through a gap, but with the line open a forward pass was ruled in the build-up.

Elland opened their account courtesy of an Island defender. Tom Hall stabbed the ball ahead and it rebounded off a defender. First to react was Steve Brocklehurst to touchdown, with Hall's kick missing the target.

Dan Wright put Island on attack with a strong drive, only for Parkinson to lose possession close to the line. With the first half coming to a close, Tez Nueto was denied a try due to a forward pass.

The second half was barely two minutes old when a good raid from Elland came to an end as Haney intercepted to go in from 50 yards.

The visitors came back strongly, applying the pressure which Island soaked up until Brocklehurst forced his way over in the corner for 22-8.

However, any hopes of closing the gap ended when Haney went in at the corner, Carter's towering kick sailing high between the posts.

Elland battled on and were rewarded on 72 minutes when Liam Manning rounded three defenders to score.

Island had the final say in the closing minutes, as Curtis added a second try before Jack Sutherland forced his way over, with two goals from Carter completing the scoring.

Askam pulled off a magnificent 38-0 win at Leigh East in Division Two.

Well led by Tom Hopkins, the Villagers were always in the driving seat, leading 12-0 at the break and dominating the second half with 26 unanswered points.

Tries came from Mark Tyson, Liam Saunders, Tom Butler, Russ Bolton (2), Jake Spedding and Dan Sayle, with five goals from Kris Tyson.