Boro bow to Burns

Victory was also down to a commanding second-half display from the visitors.

Playing down the slope and with the breeze, Middlesbrough had the better of the opening exchanges and went 14-0 up through tries from Rhys Kilbride and Richard Horton. Jack Bircham added the two conversions.

Wheatley were awarded a penalty try just before the break and Burns ran in a hat-trick after the restart.

Fly-half Peter Turner crashed over with Jonathan Woodcock converting to extend the lead and, although Horton added a second try for Middlesbrough late on, the points were in the bag.

Morley climbed above Sheffield into third place after a 57-7 romp over second-from-bottom Darlington, at Scatcherd Lane.

The match was originally due to take place seven days earlier but Darlington had been unable to fulfil the fixture as they had just nine fully fit players and no front row. The gulf in class between the sides was crystal clear.