Rugby League: Newlove haunts Leeds

PAUL NEWLOVE led the way with his third hat-trick of the season as Bradford Northern inflicted a comprehensive 42-16 victory against the beaten Wembley finalists, Leeds.

Leeds, without four of their Challenge Cup line-up, were 18-0 down within 25 minutes, and although they hit back with tries from Craig Innes and Graham Holroyd just before the interval, they were unable to knock Bradford off their stride.

Within minutes of the resumption Newlove was over for his second try and then completed his second hat- trick against Leeds in successive games, gathering superbly to score after hacking ahead when Kevin Iro dropped a high pass.

Sheffield Eagles celebrated their first appearance in the First Division Premiership with a deserved 32-16 success at Warrington. Sheffield, who have won the Second Division Premiership twice in their 10-year history, romped into an 18-0 interval lead with three converted tries by Richard Price, Daryl Powell and David Plange.

Despite Allan Bateman's try, Warrington could not recover after David Fraisse swept over for two tries in five minutes. Tries by Kelly Shelford and Jonathan Davies cut the gap to 28-16 but Sheffield had the final say from the substitute Ian Hughes went over four minutes from time.

Leigh have parted company with Terry Cassidy, their 44-year-old assistant coach, after only eight months as an 'economy measure'.