After a five-week league break, Millom travelled to Leeds hoping to carry on the pre-Christmas form against a formidable side coached by Leeds Rhino star Jamie Jones Buchanan.

Within two minutes Nathan Mossop made a glorious 60-metre break to put the Leeds line under pressure. But it was Millom who fell behind when prop forward Andy Wormald bustled his way over for a try and a 4-0 lead.

The Maroons were playing some good rugby and drew level four minutes later when young Brad Crellin went in for a try. Both sides were defending well, but a 17th minute penalty gave the home side a two-point advantage. Mossop and Paul Evans were trying to get their speedy three-quarters into the game, while the forwards were working hard against the determined Yorkshire outfit, backed by a large crowd.

On the half-hour Stanningley went further ahead when centre Matt Russel went in for a try, 10-4. With some questionable decisions going against them, Millom were losing their momentum and Paul Lupton received a yellow card, along with standoff Shaun Hargreaves. But it was the home side who were awarded the penalty to put them in front 12-4.

With half-time approaching, Millom attacked and crossed the line only for the referee to call held-up over the line. From the play-the-ball Millom went over again for what looked a perfectly good try, but once again the official ruled it out and blew the whistle for half-time. After constant pressure on the home line a grubber kick from Evans was gathered by Mossop to score and the conversion put Millom right back in the game at 12-10.

Stanningley came right back at Millom and a loose ball over the try line was fallen on by Stuart Halliday and the conversion put the gap out to eight points. Millom continued to play some good rugby and it paid off when sub Steve Dawson collected a cross kick from Paul Evans to score in the corner to bring the score to 18-14 with 20 minutes to play.

The visitors continued to put pressure on Stanningley, with Tom Sibley, Middleton and Wilson showing up well in a strong pack. Cheered on by the crowd, the home side were defending well, helped by some questionable decisions by the referee. They kept the Maroons out and, in added time, prop Andy Wormald went over for his second try to extended to lead to 22-14.

Lively scrum-half Nathan Mossop was Millom man-of-the-match, ahead of Andrew Mellen and Sibley.

Stanningley have added a new twist to the promotion chase with a compelling victory over third placed Millom. The Maroons, who had only lost one previous fixture, remain in the promotion frame but are now only two points clear of Milford.

Stanningley, although seven points adrift, could yet mount a late challenge on this form. The Leeds outfit, never behind, have won their last four games and wer 12-4 ahead at half time after posting tries by prop Andrew Wormald and centre Matthew Ruseel, winger Stuart Halliday converting each score.

Millom, who had opened with a touchdown for centre Bradd Crellin, hit back to within two points when scrum half Nathan Mossop zipped in and stand off Paul Evans added the extras. Substitute David Jennings countered for Stanningley, Halliday improving, only for the Cumbrians to respond with a touchdown for substitute Steve Dawson.

But the last word went to the home side, Wormald grabbing his second try and Millom, who had won 19-10 in Furness in September, being repelled in the closing stages.