SLAITHWAITE Saracens destroyed plucky Victoria Rangers 86-2 to remain on course for the Pennine League Second Division title.
This latest victory – the Saracens’ 13th from 13 starts – helped them keep the pressure on leaders Westgate Wolves, who made it 14 wins from 15 fixtures with their 62-4 success at Boothtown Terriers.
The visitors outgunned their Bradford hosts in every department, and it was obvious after just one minute that there was only going to be one outcome.
After this, tries came faster than a point a minute, with the try of the game coming on the half-hour mark when the ball was worked from the right wing to the left and then back inside for full-back Dave Holmes to race over.
By half-time, the game was already out of reach for Victoria at 54-2.
The second half started just like the first and by full-time no less than 10 different Saracens players had scored tries to complete the rout.
And Newsome Panthers remain one place below Slaithwaite in the table after seeing off a determined fourth-placed Greetland All Rounders 30-16, who pushed their visitors all the way.
But it was the Panthers who were the first to strike, with Jason Dodd crossing under the posts to finish off a long-range move.
Greetland responded to draw level on the back of a few Newsome mistakes before another good move created the opening for James Wallace to finish off and make it 10-6 at the break.
The Panthers started the second half the brighter and extended ther lead after five minutes when Tom Good crashed onto a short ball from Ross Studholme to go under the posts.
And 10 minutes later good directional work from man-of-the-match Austen Barrowclough at hooker and good half-back link play enabled Dodd to cross twice more to complete his hat trick and make it 26-6.
Newsome’s defence was once again strong, with Barrowclough leading the way with 30 tackles, but they were still unable to prevent Greetland from crossing for two late tries as the visitors switched off.
But the Panthers quickly reasserted themselves and it wasn’t long before Ryan Heeley crossed to complete the scoring.
