Rugby round-up: Wolverhampton boost survival prospects as Handsworth tighten gap at top
Wolverhampton boosted their survival prospects with a resounding 38-7 home victory over rock bottom Newcastle (Staffs) II in the Counties One Midlands West (West).
Alfie Parkes scored two tries for Wolverhampton - while Max Woodward, Connor Fereday, James Duroe and Woody Turner also crossed the line.
That helped them climb two points of the relegation mire with two games in hand over each of the bottom-three.
In a weekend of limited fixtures, which included no action from the top two-tiers, Clee Hill missed the chance to extend their lead
Fourth-placed Warley were condemned to a convincing 68-7 home hammering at the hands of Counties Three Midlands West (South) leaders Woodrush.
Second from bottom Cannock were left nine points adrift of safety after they were consigned to a 64-19 drubbing by Stone in the Counties Three Midlands West (North).
Tries for Philip Watson, Liam Bayliss, Thomas Parker and Daryl Fox propelled Stone into a 26-14 lead at the interval.
Adam Greaves added to the scoring shortly after the restart and Bayliss dotted it down for his second of the afternoon to take the contest away from Cannock.
A brace from Cameron McKay either side of solitary tries for Lewis Kemp and Alex Evans completed the rout for Stone.
Elsewhere, third-placed Lichfield II maintained their seven-point buffer over Stone in fourth with a 43-25 triumph at midtable Oswestry.
Handsworth inflicted a 72-0 demolition on Pinley to move to within just three points of the league summit in the Counties Three Midlands West (East).
A pair of hat-tricks for Christopher Bell and Daniel Malkin followed by tries for Matthew Bright, Daniel Edwards, Gavin Taylor, Jonathan Macey, Harry Openshaw and Daniel Bishop helped Handsworth pile the pressure on league leaders Broadstreet II.
In the Counties Four Midlands West (North), Bloxwich moved just four points behind leaders Whitchurch II after they were awarded an away walkover at rock bottom Alridge.
Fourth-placed Burntwood II were also handed a home walkover against third from bottom Newcastle (Staffs) III.
Meanwhile, Wednesbury dropped nine points behind Bloxwich, but boast a game in hand, after their home fixture against Whitchurch II was postponed.
