Bradshaws combine as Morley hold on for important triumph

Luctonian 20 Morley 23

Morley held their nerve in a tense finale to record a vital victory because both of the sides just above them in the table, Nuneaton and Kendal, also won.

The sides started by trading penalties in a closely-fought first half before Simon Bradshaw put the visitors 6-3 up with his second.

That lead was extended on 17 minutes through a penalty try after Bradshaw had been impeded when chasing his chip down the left and he duly converted.

Luctonians hit back with a converted try from a driving maul before both sides again exchanged penalties to give Morley a three-point advantage at the midway stage.

After the break, Morley put themselves in the driving seat on 52 minutes when left winger Karl Bradshaw nipped in to score and brother Simon added the two points.

With five minutes remaining, Luctonians hauled themselves back within three points with a converted try but, despite playing five minutes of stoppage-time in which both sides missed penalty attempts, Morley held on to claim a well-earned victory.

Huddersfield 18 Fylde 25

Despite a slow start, Huddersfield put up a stirring display and became only the third side to prevent leaders Fylde claiming all five points in a match.

The home side were caught cold and shipped two tries, one of which was converted, inside the first 10 minutes to find themselves facing an uphill battle.

They steadied themselves and started to put together some impressive rugby, claiming a penalty and then scoring a breakaway try through winger Adam Sutcliffe. However, Fylde hit back with a third try, again converted, in the five minutes before half-time to lead 19-8 at the interval.

After the break, and despite Huddersfield producing some good pressure, the visitors continued to add to the scoreboard with two consecutive penalties.

Huddersfield again came back with fly-half Chris Johnson going through the middle and converting his own score.

Five minutes from time, the home side were awarded a penalty which Johnson kicked to take his side within seven points, enough to earn them a well-deserved bonus point.

Hull 23 Loughborough St 29

HULL’S late surge was only enough to earn a bonus point against the students.

James Cameron equalised Stewart Hall’s early penalty but Craig Holland pounced for a converted try after a clearance from Alex Piercy bounced off the prop.

Two mid-range penalties from full-back Guy Martinson gave Hull a one-point deficit at the break only for Rob Conquest to strike from a quick tap penalty after the restart.

Hull responded when Adi Longbone finished a close-range catch and drive and Students No 8 Mike Macfarlane was sin-binned.

Conquest got back on the scoresheet when a quick switch of passing gave thim space to cross.

With 15 minutes left, Josh Lamping completed another close-range catch and drive which Cameron converted.

Students’ Oliver Robinson then ran in from 10 metres and the conversion gave Loughborough a six-point lead.

Hull threw everything at the visitors, especially when Russell Weir was sin-binned for foul play. They crossed the line twice only to be called back by the referee.

Harrogate 25 Hull Ionians 25

In a full-blooded local derby, Harrogate seemed to have secured a close win when Jamie Broadley kicked a penalty in the dying minutes.

However, in the second minute of stoppage-time, Harrogate were adjudged to have knocked on deliberately in defence and the reliable James Ferguson kicked the penalty to draw the game.

As per usual, Harrogate attacked from the start and scored two good tries to go 10-0 ahead after 15 minutes.

The first try resulted from a lightning break by Arnie Ellison which was well supported by prop Andy Fraser, who crashed over in the corner.

Harrogate’s outstanding young No 8, Alex Rieder, then showed immense strength and pace to carve through the Ionians midfield from 60 metres out. He was checked just short of the line but Ellison supported to score. Harrogate had not selected a specialist goal kicker and this proved to be crucial.

Discipline also proved to be an important factor when Sam Bottomley was yellow-carded for a breakdown offence.

Hull took full advantage of the 10-minute numerical advantage to score twice.

Scrum-half Adam Thomas, split the reduced Harrogate back row and left everyone else in his wake for a great individual long-range try.

Harrogate’s midfield defence was then found wanting and Hull created an overlap for flying winger, Gary Stephenson, who scored in the corner. Crucially, Ferguson converted both tries to edge the visitors in front.

Another fine individual try followed from Hull’s evergreen centre Oli Marns to make the half-time score 19-10.

Harrogate’s forwards started the second half with a powerful display in both the tight and the loose.

Second-rows Jake Brady and Gareth Lodge made powerful drives and Rieder then pounced on a badly-judged Ionians chip to scatter the defence and touch down between the posts.

Broadley converted to bring Harrogate within two points and soon afterwards he split the Hull defence with a powerful break down the left wing. Ed Smithies supported well to score and restore the home lead.

Another penalty from Ferguson levelled the scores and inspired Hull to further attacks.

Brady won crucial turnover ball and Harrogate set up yet another attack.

An Ionians handling offence at a ruck gave Broadley his apparently winning penalty opportunity before Ferguson brought the scores level with the last kick of the match.