Hall makes impression on return as Johnson makes Morley pay

Morley 11

Huddersfield took advantage of some uncharacteristic Morley errors to register their first win of the season.

While it was still not vintage Huddersfield, there was plenty to please coach Dan Hyde, not least the performance by winger Dave Hall who has returned to the club from Wharfedale.

An even first half started with an exchange of penalties between Chris Johnson and Simon Bradshaw but Huddersfield got their noses firmly in front when hooker James Davies beat three men to touch down for a try converted by Johnson.

Bradshaw's second penalty reduced the arrears to four points at the break but the home side improved their position in the second half when Johnson landed a penalty and then added the extras to a well-worked try. Hall's skill created the position and Mark Whitehead finished off.

Morley fought their way back into contention with an unconverted try from Craig Field but Huddersfield dashed their hopes when, against the run of play, Johnson intercepted and ran in a try which he also converted, taking his points tally to 17.

Westoe 20

Hull Ionians 19

Hull Ionians were denied as Mark Bedworth struck two penalties in the last 20 minutes to give his side a narrow win.

It was a case of Ionians' excellent team work against a team of talented individuals and the visitors took the lead after 50 minutes play with a try by player-coach Mick Watson.

Westoe scored in the first minute when they span a deep kick wide, creating space for Gareth Kerr to race in, Bedworth converting.

Ionians contained Westoe well as they moved the ball around at pace but then good forward work saw the Westoe scrum pushed back 10 metres. Centre Shaun Leaf crashed over between the posts but was ruled to have been held up. From the resulting scrum, Adam Thomas darted over wide out.

Westoe relieved further pressure with a raking kick and then stole the lineout for David Haswell to score, Bedworth converting.

To close the half, Ionians' forwards repeatedly drove at the line and killing the move illegally twice saw Westoe down to 13 men and the next drive saw Rob Kench just stopped short.

After the break, Ionians made the numbers count as more good drives set up James Ferguson to cross and convert. Westoe were back to 15 men as Watson was driven over and Ferguson converted for a 19-14 lead.

Tactical kicking by Bedworth, however, earned positions for penalties on 60 and 72 minutes to edge the match.

Hull 47

Harrogate 27

Hull were soon into their stride as they claimed a second successive win in this Yorkshire derby.

James Cameron kicked a second-minute penalty for offside and, eight minutes later, Danny Smith intercepted a Harrogate pass to the left and ran in for the first try, which Cameron converted.

He struck the upright in the 20th minute after quick passing had ended in Tevita Vaikona's first-time offload to James Greene giving the full-back space to finish off.

Harrogate replied and passing along the line produced a gap for Mike Aspinall to dive in from close range before the conversion went wide.

Another burst by Vaikona through the defensive line enabled left wing Phil Murphy to cross for his first Hull try, which Cameron failed to convert but he made amends with two penalties before the break, including one from the halfway line just before the whistle.

Harrogate scored on the restart when the defence lost Ed Smithies open on the right flank to run in for a converted try.

Hull scored again within two minutes after Rob Devonshire charged down a clearance 10 metres out and set up Matt White to score and Cameron to convert.

Sione Onesi scored two converted tries from catch and drives for Hull but Kyle Dench scored for Harrogate in between from a close-range scrum with Smithies missing the kick.

Rob Almond and Smithies had the last word for the visitors in the last 10 minutes with two identical tries.

They found space on the left wing and were unmarked when high balls across the line found them five metres out. It enabled Harogate to claim their own bonus point and close the game.