Gardiner ensures Beverley can celebrate anniversary in style

Beverley 29West Hartlepool 5

BEVERLEY rounded off their 50th anniversary celebrations with a fine win over a lively West Hartlepool.

The home side had all the early possession but could make little use of it, partly due to some fine West defending.

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For most of the first half, Beverley had nearly all of the play but made heavy weather of it and at the interval all they had to show for their dominance was a try from flanker David Worrall five minutes before the break.

West raised their game in the second half without looking likely to go on and win it.

Two tries from wing-forward Craig Hancock in the space of two minutes, one converted by fly-half Phil Duboulay, effectively sealed victory for Beverley before winger Goran Jelencic crossed for a fourth, also converted by Duboulay, to earn them a bonus point.

Although the game was beyond them, West fought back and a try by centre Jamie Connelly gave them some reward from a physical, hard-fought encounter.

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In the dying minutes, Beverley were reduced to 14 minutes by an injury to Hancock, and they then had Jelencic yellow-carded. But Beverley had the last word when centre Jade Gardiner raced over in the final minute for a fifth try to seal a fine victory.

Rochdale 22

With both sides looking to avoid relegation, this game was important and it was Rochdale's Steve Collins who edged the game late on.

The signs were not good for Cleckheaton from the start when Collins kicked a penalty. Iain Gordon replied before Collins again kicked a penalty.

It was not until the 26th minute that Cleckheaton had a clear chance when Owen Edwards made a break from halfway but lost the ball.

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Cleckheaton forwards drove for the line and a quick ball out to Pete Murphy enabled him to send in Ross Hayden for a try converted by Gordon.

Collins kicked a penalty against the run of play and Will Van Zyl bust through the Cleckheaton defence for a try, which Collins converted before the break.

Cleckheaton started the second half well with two penalties in the space of seven minutes but Carl Mason became the first of three sin-binnings b efore each side kicked a penalty.

In the space of two minutes, Cleckheaton had Gordon and Ryan Piercy binned but they weathered the storm and created numerous chancesto seal the game.

However, 76th-minute drop goal from Collins gave Rochdale the lead and Cleckheaton's late pressure failed to produce a winning try.