Midlands Premier
SANDBACH battled through the last 20 minutes with 14 men to clinch a morale-boosting 14-13 victory over Syston to damage their league hopes.
Tries from Jimmy Gore and Mark Irving led Sandbach to the unlikely win while James Preston kicked both conversions.
It was not plain sailing for Sandbach who were reduced to 14 men following a yellow for Josh Longson.
Craig Lockington scored the only try for Syston while Fin Nockles kicked two penalties and one conversion.
Sheffield capitalised on that defeat to move five points clear of their nearest challenger in second with a comfortable 43-3 win at Oundle.
The Yorkshire visitors were in formidable form, with Ianto Jones running over the first try after the opening four minutes.
That opening try sparked an emphatic firsthalf display with Lewis Taylor, a brace of Will Smith efforts and a further try under a maul put their side 29-3 up at the break, with a Jordan Carey penalty the only reply.
Taylor added his second after the break before Jason Hignell completed the scoring.
It was a good day in the league for Sheffield as second-placed challengers Bridgnorth also dropped points as they suffered a 24-12 defeat at Nuneaton.
Newport (Salop) continued their charge towards the league title, taking a 17th win from 19 games by a 20-10 scoreline at home to Broadstreet.
Dudley Kingswinford took advantage of that defeat by Broadstreet to move above them into ninth following a 16-10 home win over Bromsgrove.
Bromsgrove had only a William Harris try, conversion and penalty to show for their efforts as the leading teams continue to distance them.
Paviors remain on the hunt for a sixth league win after falling to a 19-8 defeat at the hands of Sandbach.
The battle for the bottom four positions continues with Oundle still bottom but having played a game less than Nuneaton six points above them.
