HINDPOOL Tigers got their stop-go season back on track with a 34-18 victory over Chorley Panthers – but they were made to work for it by a spirited Chorley.

The Panthers, despite fielding a below-strength side, shot into an early 12-point lead as Hindpool struggled to shake off the rust of a three-month absence from action.

The driving rain and greasy conditions contributed to a game riddled with errors, but there was no lack of enthusiasm and when Chorley got off to a flier with two tries in the opening eight minutes the Tigers knew they were in for a busy afternoon.

Prop Josh Haddon crashed over in the corner to give the 11-man visitors an early lead and, when four minutes later, winger Louis Davies added a second try, also converted by scrum-half Connor Baxter, Hindpool were quickly on the back foot.

Josh Archer’s try from a Jamie McIlroy pass got them off the mark and Mike Kummer narrowed the gap even further when he forced his way over and Lee Boyd added the conversion to narrow the gap to a couple of points.

But Chorley still had another surprise in store when four tacklers failed to halt the burst of Tony Fitzgerald. Baxter’s third goal stretched the Panthers’ lead to 18-10.

Kummer’s second try three minutes before the break gave the Tigers something to work on and Jordan Mason strengthened their position five minutes into the second half with the home side’s fourth try and Boyd’s conversion put them in front at 20-18.

From there the Tigers had things much their own way. Tiring Chorley started to pay the price of arriving at Brisbane Park short-handed and they could not hold prop Craig Regan as he crashed through to stretch the Hindpool lead to six points.

The Tigers made their strength in numbers count a few minutes later when Boyd crossed and Paul Rickleton added the conversion points.

The Tigers still had more to offer and they kept what was probably their best passing movement until last, resulting in a try for second row forward Cameron Hayton.

Good days have been few and far between for Millom this season but one came along on Saturday.

They chalked up only their third National Conference Division One win of the season with a thumping 56-4 success against fellow strugglers Elland.

But if Millom are on their way to a quick return to Division Two they could well be swapping places with Askam who strengthened their grip on the Division Two runners-up spot with a hard-earned 20-18 victory at fellow promotion seekers Dudley Hill.

Tries from Jack Cairns, man of the match Tom Hopkins, Tom Askew and Joe Satterthwaite, plus goals from Sam Dowsett and Mark Tyson, gave them a comfortable 20-4 half-time lead, but the game was far from over.

They had to withstand a second half comeback from the Bradford side to scrape home by just two points.

Askam now have a four-point cushion ahead of nearest challengers Thornhill Trojans and Saddleworth Rangers, who visit Fallowfield Park on the last day of the regular season.

The Cumbria League suffered a double blow on Saturday when two of the county’s long established clubs Seaton Rangers and Maryport failed to raise sides to visit Barrow, leaving Barrow Island and Roose Pioneers without a game.

A late drop-goal from Brad Nicholls earned Walney Central a revenge win in their midweek clash with Ulverston at Central Park.

The sides were locked together at 16-16 when Nicholls slotted over the winning point eight minutes from time.

Earlier Ulverston had taken a 10-0 lead with tries from Mark Storey and Joel Smith before Stuart Tippett got Cents on the scoreboard after half an hour.

A Connor Sanders penalty stretched Ulverston’s lead before a Mike Elliott try, converted by brother Matt, brought Walney to within two points.

They went in front with a try from Jake Devereux before the game took yet another twist, Steve Connor going over to level things up.

But Ulverston’s hopes of completing the double over the Cents were foiled by Nicholls’ 72nd-minute drop-goal.