In a hard fought contest, tries from Josh Ballance in the first half and Bobby Cheadle in the second were enough to inflict only the second defeat of the season on the visitors.

A strong defensive display by the Moorlanders - including a try saving tackle by Jack Fryer late in the first period - kept out their normally free-scoring opponents until the very end of the match.

The losing bonus point secured from a converted try sees Barton move to 68 points in Counties 3 Midlands North West, with Leek on 62 - but with that game in hand to come. Newcastle 2s are a further point back.

But it was a tough trip to the Wirral for Leek 1sts, who lost 47-19 against a much-improved Anselmians team.

The Merseyside outfit won with a last-gasp try in the return fixture earlier in the season, but they were fast out of the blocks this time around, scoring after just four minutes and stretching to a 10-0 lead with a penalty soon after. Tom Hayes's try closed the gap, but injuries caused early changes for the Moorlanders and the Saints pulled away with two further converted tries.

A try at the end of the half for the returning Sam Brereton gave the blue and whites some hope, but Anselmians started the second period strongly, stretching to a 34-14 lead with another converted try and penalty. They added another couple of penalties before Lewis Dunleavy's try, and sealed the deal with a fifth try at the death.

Kendal beat bottom team Birkenhead, but Stoke lost heavily at home to Stockport. With games against all three still to come, Leek's future remains in their own hands.