Morley strike back to tame Tigers and keep on course for title triumph

TRAILING 10-0 at half-time, promotion-chasing Morley battled back to record an important victory at Abbeydale Park.

Second-placed Morley closed the gap at the top to just three points with leaders Stockport losing at Birkenhead Park, and with a game in hand will be eyeing the title.

But they could have narrowed the gap further were they not restricted to two tries by a Tigers side who performed better than of late.

With the wind in the first half, Tigers took the lead after 23 minutes with centre Tom Outram kicking a penalty. Flanker Callum McKenzie touched down five minutes later and Outram added the extras, as the home side opened up a 10-0 lead at the break.

However, right-winger Karl Bradshaw took just three minutes of the second half to score Morley's opening try, and on 49 minutes stand-off Mark Chester narrowed the gap to 10-8 with a penalty.

Another penalty on 60 minutes edged Morley into a narrow lead and wing-forward Pete Dadswell touched down 12 minutes from the end, Chester converting to ensure the victory.

West Park (St Helens) 37

Middlesbrough 25

Middlesbrough, showing seven changes from the side which convincingly beat Sheffield Tigers, suffered a humiliating defeat on their visit to bottom of the table West Park.

Middlesbrough were fighting from behind within two minutes of the kick-off when West Park winger Warren Hunt raced over for the opening try. Eight minutes later, centre Steve Briers added another.

When Middlesbrough centre Martin Featherstone was injured, replacement Peter Homan came on for his first senior game since the start of the season and promptly scored the visitors' first try.

Winger Callum Campbell converted and soon scored a try when he followed up a kick ahead and beat the opposition to the line.

In the 38th minute, West Park scored their third unconverted try through second-row Robert Hanson.

Right on half-time, Campbell kicked a penalty to put Middlesbrough level at 15-15.

However, West Park took the lead soon after the restart when centre Craig Orrick touched down and Hunt converted. Middlesbrough regained the lead when West Park collapsed a scrum and Campbell converted the ensuing penalty try.

Hunt pulled back a penalty and it was all West Park in the last 10 minutes as Orrick ran in his second try, converted by Hunt, before back-row Mike Milward added another try.