Morley can find no answers as they are knocked off top spot

Morley folded against second half pressure and went down to only their second defeat of the season.

The defeat knocked them off top spot, although they have a game in hand over new leaders Stockport and are still seven points clear of Penrith in third.

The final score looked unlikely when Morley dominated the first half and they might well have turned round much better than 14-12 in front.

They imposed plenty of early pressure and were awarded a penalty try, Mark Chester slotting home the conversion.

He was successful again in the 33rd minute following a well-taken try from captain Craig Field.

Morley took the field in the second half looking to build on their advantage but Penrith's forwards started to get on top with some dogged work that ensured their side had most of the possession.

Gradually, they started to find the openings in the visitors' defence and for once Morley could find no answer.

Beverley 16

Chester 6

BOTH sides made light of the heavy conditions to produce a fast, exciting game that remained in the balance until the dying minutes, but it was hosts Beverley who secured a vital victory.

Chester had the better of the early play and took the lead with a penalty from fly-half Rhys Hayes, but Beverley responded almost immediately with a try by centre Richard Bussey following a drive by the Beverley pack into the visitors' 22.

Scrum-half Mike Kilgannon kicked a penalty to stretch the Beverley lead to 8-3 at half-time, although it was somewhat against the run of play.

Chester reduced the arrears to two points early in the second half with a second penalty by Hayes as the game developed into a tense struggle between two teams going flat out for victory. Another penalty by Kilgannon took Beverley five points clear, but the lively Chester backline always looked capable of turning the game around.

They were constantly thwarted by fine Beverley tackling, which ultimately prevented them from having anything to show for the full 80 minutes.

In the later stages, Beverley closed the game out by keeping the ball tight with wing-forward Tony Riby-French and lock Gavin Gibson outstanding.

In the final minutes with the game heading to a tense finish, a break by hooker Ally Forth from a maul on halfway was rounded off by Bussey, who crossed for his second try to seal victory for Beverley, whose 10th victory of the season places them in fifth position.