Play-off positions beckon for the Bees after forwards set up deserved win over Wests

Bradford & Bingley 31 West Hartlepool 12

A five-try win for the Bees based on a five-star performance from the tight forwards puts the Wagon Lane men right into the mix for the promotion play-off spots in National Three North.

The first try arrived after four minutes when Richard Scull burst clear to go over the line from 30 metres out, allowing Gavin Stead to convert. It followed an opening salvo from the visitors, who went ahead through Paul Moss’s second-minute penalty.

Moss added his second penalty on 26 minutes, but the Bees deservedly pulled away when Giles Hetherington scampered over on the left wing for his 13th try of the season.

Stead missed the conversion into the wind but was given a further opportunity to add the extras right on half-time after Guy Ford went over the line. Moss’s third penalty made it 19-9 to the hosts at the break.

For the opening quarter of an hour in the second period, it was all Hartlepool and Moss brought his side to within a converted score of their hosts with a penalty on the hour mark.

The hosts seemed stung into action as a result of Moss’s fourth penalty success and, after a series of scrums near the Wests line, the referee eventually awarded a penalty try.

Ford made the points safe with his second try of the match in the 76th minute.

Altrincham 8 Beverley 8

BEVERLEY were left disappointed after they surrendered an 8-0 lead due to two late defensive lapses.

Altrincham had the better of the play throughout and most of the territorial possession, but Beverley’s defending was outstanding and it was the visitors who took the lead with a penalty by fly-half Phil Duboulay shortly before half time.

After the break, Beverley added to their lead with an interception try by centre Junior Tupai who raced clear from halfway.

A penalty by fly-half Rob Holloway from in front of the posts brought Altrincham back into it and Beverley were forced into a desperate rearguard action for the remainder of the match.

And, in the dying minutes with their scrum-half Chris Infield in the sin-bin, Beverley lost possession from a scrum on their own line and Altrincham moved the ball across field to winger Tony O’Connor, who touched down in the corner.

Morley 17 Burnage 22

MORLEY picked up a bonus-point with a late converted try in a home defeat against Burnage.

The visitors took the lead with an unconverted try on 13 minutes from right winger Chris Korneckie. Morley had to wait until the 29th-minute for a reply, with a penalty from substitute fly-half Scott Evans.

The Maroons took the lead with a try shortly after the break. From a scrum, a series of driving mauls ended with lock Tom Hanson forcing his way over and Evans converted to make it 10-5. Burnage then drew level with 10 minutes remaining.

Although Morley dominated the play, Burnage twice broke through some lax defending, flanker Tony Lynn and full-back Perry Alexander scoring on 72 and 78 minutes to take the game away from the hosts.

There was still time for one excellent handling move to come off when Jack Moon broke a tackle, allowing centre Tom Clough in for a try. Although Evans added the conversion for a bonus-point, there was still a sense that Morley should have had more.

Chester 27 Sandal 13

HIGH-FLYING Chester proved too good for Sandal, who were playing their firsat game in February due to recent weather conditions.

The visitors took a 6-0 lead with two penalties from Greg Wood, however, but Chester got their noses in front with a converted try after 30 minutes and the scores remained the same until half-time.

Chester added to their lead with a penalty before a loose pass from Sandal gifted them a second try to make the score 17-6. A further try from the hosts took it to 22-6 before Sandal hit back 10 minutes from time following a break by second row Jimmy Stuart which ended in a try for scrum half Gareth Newman.

From the restart, Sandal worked their way back up the pitch into a position for a penalty, but it was missed and Chester added insult to injury by grabbing a late try at the other end.