Leaders Loughborough Students enjoyed another good weekend as they beat Broadstreet 24-8 while Leicester Lions denied Macclesfield a bonus point in their respective National Two North matches.

It means Students are now four points clear of closest rivals Macclesfield, who still have a game in hand, after Lions limited the Cheshire side to three tries during a 27-15 defeat.

Students fell 5-0 behind early on against Broadstreet but recovered to lead 17-5 at the break. Tries came from James Silcock, David Hughes and Camilo Parilli, and George Drake added a conversion.

Broadstreet would not go away and pulled a penalty back five minutes after the restart.

Ashley Smith's try on 49 minutes was decisive as it gave Students a 24-8 lead and an all-important bonus point.

That was how the match finished and it allowed Students to extend their lead at the top by an extra point.

In a division of small margins, that could prove crucial. It means Macclesfield need to win their game in hand with a bonus point to take the lead with daylight. And they still have to meet Students.

Lions, meanwhile, were spirited in defeat in Cheshire.

Ross Winney has been in outstanding form with the boot for the home side and his 12 points were the difference between the sides.

Winney opened the scoring with an early penalty but Jon Boden cancelled that out on 18 minutes.

A converted try put the hosts 10-3 up but Scott Morris pulled a try back after 37 minutes. A Winney penalty then gave Macclesfield a 13-8 lead at the break.

Two more converted tries took the game away from Lions but they kept battling and were rewarded with a late Gareth Collins try. Boden converted but, unfortunately, it was too late to force a bonus point.

Lions' next challenge is a local derby at home to Rugby Lions, while Students travel to basement boys Waterloo.

Macclesfield have a tough assignment at Fylde, so this weekend could prove an important one in the title race.