Beverley storm back to snatch unlikely win

At half-time they trailed 17-5; they had been reduced to 14 men through a red card, and their influential fly-half Phil Duboulay was on his way to hospital with a suspected broken leg.

Until Duboulay’s injury Beverley had on top and led through an early try by lock Fraley Hopa.

In the second half Beverley’s 14 men produced a spectacular comeback against the odds.

Lock Gavin Gibson touched down for two similar tries following catch-and-drives by the home pack who were well on top in the forward exchanges. Junior Tupai’s touchline conversion levelled the scores at 17-17.

Reeve kicked a penalty against the run of play to briefly restore Waterloo’s lead but Beverley in a determined last quarter secured victory with a try by Richard Bussey which Tupai converted.

Sandal enjoyed their second success in six games with a 48-22 victory at Birkenhead Park.

Seven tries, including two from centre Simon Frewin, back at the club after spells at Coventry and in New Zealand, turned the game around after the hosts led 22-15 at half-time.

With the wind in their favour after the interval Sandal ran in 33 unanswered points, with winger Jake Mulhern helping himself to a couple, along with full-back Tom Coad, prop Rob Norbury and winger Steph Lig.

Morley were left licking their wounds following a 106-0 thumping by table-topping Darlington Mowden Park. The Maroons conceded 16 tries only a week after they had suffered their then heaviest defeat of the season at Penrith.

Morley conceded two tries in as many minutes, the first coming straight from the kick off and the second from the restart.

At 57-0 down by half-time the leaders could have been expected to ease off but the tries continued to come just as easily, to leave the struggling visitors searching for a morale boost.

Bradford and Bingley can have no complaints as they were soundly beaten 37-12 by Rossendale.

The Bees were guilty of making a string of basic errors as their promotion hopes were ended.

Gavin Stead and Stewart Brewer drove over for the Bees but Rossendale were too strong.