Stanningley 44 Rylands Sharks 24

DESPITE surrendering their unbeaten start to the season at Stanningley on Saturday, Rylands Sharks remain top of the National Conference League Division Three.

With 12 players and head coach Matt Wilson absent, Sharks were up against it from the off and left themselves too much to do as Stanningley raced into a 30-0 lead in the first half.

Ben Selby, Jack Smith, Tom Kent, Carl McGuigan and Will Hickson had all crossed for the hosts before Ant Braide got Rylands on the board.

Carl Lloyd's try and Jack Lewis' conversion reduced the gap further, but Rylands still trailed by 20 points at the break.

Lloyd got his second as Sharks started the second half well, but Dan Barcoe gave Stanningley more breathing space.

Jack Morgan kept the visitors in touch before McGuigan crossed again for the hosts, but Aaron Holliday got the games best try when he raced the length of the field to score between the posts for Sharks.

Sadly, that was as good as it got for Rylands as Stanningley wrapped up the game with seven minutes left through Laurence Bell's try.

Wilson, who was watching at home via a live stream due to the impeding birth of his first child, says his side's hindered preparation was not an excuse for the defeat.

"We knew if we continued to start games slow we would be punished and today, we were," he said.

"There were still some really big efforts and some outstanding character shown to come back into the game after falling 30 points behind.

"We got taught a lesson & we will learn from and we will be back stronger for it."

Sharks welcome Eastmoor Dragons to Arnold Clark Park for their next game on Saturday, May 20.

Rylands: Troy Brophy; Lucas Barnes, Carl Lloyd, Danny Woods, Aaron Holliday; Jack Lewis, Theo Holt; Ashley Losh, Declan Leonard, Sam Roberts, Brad McAlpine, Nick Braide, Ant Braide. Subs Jack Morgan, Pete Price, Eddie Masterman, Mark Robinson.