Hodson holds his nerve to get Sandal back on winning track and Bees repel fightback

Having lost their last two games, against Birkenhead and Bradford and Bingley, a win was badly needed but this one owed much to a late penalty from full-back Tom Hodson.

The visitors had by far the better of the first 20 minutes and took the lead, good play down the right bringing a try for flanker James Stuart. However, they were only able to extend their winning margin on the stroke of half-time when Hodson stepped up to slot a penalty to make it 8-0.

Altrincham fought back with a penalty before taking the lead just before the hour when sustained pressure resulted in a converted try. Sandal restored their domination by maintaining possession and using the territory. They also gave a 15-minute run-out to 42-year-old former Huddersfield coach Mark Sowerby, highlighting some of the injury problems which have besieged the squad of late.

The pressure told and, with 10 minutes left, Hodson kicked the winning penalty.

Lymm 32 Morley 20

MORLEY gave themselves too much to do at Lymm after conceding four first-half tries.

The home side led 12-0 inside the first 10 minutes following a converted try from a five-metre scrum and a solo five-pointer. Morley hit back through second-row Sean Burke, who powered his way over from halfway after profiting from good hands on the counter-attack, winger Simon Bradshaw converting.

Lymm added their third try on 20 minutes to make it 17-7 before Bradshaw kept his side in touch with a penalty. The home side’s fourth try, on 30 minutes, confirmed their bonus point but Bradshaw added a further penalty and then made the break which led to centre Charles Hough’s try on 35 minutes, the conversion making the half-time score a much healthier 22-20.

However, the visitors were starved of possession as Lymm opted to keep the ball for much of the second half. They went on to add a further try and conversion on 53 minutes and, with only five minutes left, a penalty made sure there was to be no late fightback by Morley.

Bradford & Bingley 37 Burnage 25

FROM being well in command before the break, the Bees had to battle for victory.

For the first 30 minutes it looked like the Bees were on course for a 50 or 60-point winning margin as they ran in three excellent scores, all converted by Gavin Stead.

Richard Tafa struck twice and Richard Scull compounded the visitors’ misery with the third on 24 minutes.

Burnage struck a penalty but it was soon 28-3, although Burnage centre Stuart Oldham dotted down before the break.

The Bees became ragged and Burnage took only three minutes of the second half to notch their second score as Tom Blaney struck.

When a third try was added 13 minutes later, many in the Wagon Lane crowd began to fear the worst as the home side seemed to be unable to stop the visitors’ charge.

Finally, the Bees started to make inroads up the slope and the renewed pressure earned them three penalties which Stead slotted home.

Burnage’s Knight struck a penalty to wrap up the scoring.

Beverley 9 West Hartlepool 13

DESPITE dominating for much of the game, Beverley had to settle for a losing bonus point.

With most of their previously injured players back in the side they played some of their best rugby of the season and should have had the game won long before the end.

West scored the only try through lock Gareth Eddy which Gareth Foreman converted.

Two penalties from fly-half Phil Duboulay brought Beverley back to 7-6 but fine defending by the visitors denied Beverley the tries they looked like scoring.

Early in the second half, Beverley edged ahead through Duboulay’s third penalty.

But with 10 minutes remaining it all went wrong for Beverley.

With almost their first visit to Beverley territory in the second half, West were awarded a penalty which Foreman kicked from 30 metres.

Beverley then suffered a severe blow when key forward David Worrall was shown a red card for retaliation, and West closed the game down before Foreman, with the last action of the match, kicked a penalty.