Beverley edge out fellow strugglers Altrincham while Sandal reshuffle to get better of leaders

Altrincham took an early lead with a try by fly-half Rob Holloway before the hosts responded with a try by centre James Graham, converted by fly-half Phil Duboulay. But the visitors quickly regained the lead with a penalty by Callum Yates.

The home side conceded further tries to flanker Tristan Laga and centre Matt Hulse before the break and although they had the advantage of a stiff wind in the second half they still struggled until the introduction of flanker David Worrall.

A try by debutant winger Ben Reville-Jones brought them back into it and with centre Junior Tupai adding a converted try the deficit was suddenly down to a single point. Captain Tupai then put Duboulay in for a fourth converted try to put Beverley back in the lead.

They went two scores clear with a Duboulay penalty, before the visitors secured a bonus point with a converted Simon Edwards try.

n MORLEY were forced to settle for a losing bonus point despite a second-half fightback at Burnage, who prevailed 28-22.

The hosts set up a 10-0 lead with a converted try and a penalty inside the first 20 minutes. Morley hit back with two penalties from Simon Bradshaw in the space of two minutes, only for Burnage to grab an unconverted try.

The home side extended their advantage with another three points, although Bradshaw replied with a penalty as Morley trailed 18-9 at the break.

A better second-half performance then saw the visitors reduce the deficit to a point. First, Bradshaw produced his fourth successful kick and before flanker Tom Clough forced his way over.

A penalty put Burnage four points ahead, but the killer blow for Morley came on 70 minutes when they were adjudged to have pulled down a driving maul and seven points went the way of the hosts with a penalty try.

Winger Bradshaw grabbed a late try for consolation.

n SANDAL gave an outstanding team performance to see off league leaders Chester 27-24.

With two serious injuries during the game forcing a reshuffle it was a fine display against a side who had gone seven games unbeaten in the league.

Playing uphill in the first half, Sandal quickly conceded seven points, but rallied when centre Dan McCormack ran in a try.

A second touchdown for the visitors highlighted the test Sandal faced but they came back once more when full-back Tom Hodson ran from halfway to convert his own try.

Chester grabbed a third before the break to make it 19-12, but Sandal levelled the scores again with a converted try early in the second half, only for Chester to grab their fourth moments later.

Hodson’s penalty cut the deficit to two points but he was saving the best until last. With eight minutes remaining, a break over halfway from winger Alex Orr made the space and he off-loaded to Hodson who powered home from 40 metres for the match-winning try.

n A 23-11 defeat for Bradford and Bingley at West Hartlepool saw the visitors slip back one place in the league table.

The Bees played 20 minutes of this game facing 14 men after West’s second row man Andrew Davies received his marching orders for a second yellow card offence, but were unable to capitalise on their numerical advantage.

The Bees drew first blood as Aiden Scully crossed within four minutes of the kick off. However, they could not hold out the home side as as the first quarter ended, a try from scrum-half Andrew Foreman saw them draw level.

Just as the Bees thoughts may have been thinking of going in level at half-time, within a minute Martin Whitcombe’s men had lost Eddie Peglau to injury and also conceded another try.

If there can be a positive side to an injury it was that Ryan Wederall replaced Peglau for his first run out of the season and the leadership of the veteran Kiwi prop could be crucial for the Bees in the coming weeks.

Turning around only five points adrift, there was everything to play for in the second period, but the Bees never really managed to get firing on all cylinders.

With Gavin Stead firing over penalties to match a pair from Hartlepool’s Waites, it was 16-11 as the game entered the final 20 minutes.

With the home side reduced to 14 men it appeared the game could now be won, but the Bees could not turn pressure into points and the crucial interception score would prove to be their undoing.