Resurgent Morley claim scalp of Sandal as Huddersfield aim high

Morley recorded their fourth win of the season and their second in three games with a 13-6 derby success against Sandal.
Mark PeaseMark Pease
Mark Pease

After trading penalties in the first five minutes Sandal went ahead with a penalty from outside centre and former Morley man Mark Pease. The hosts hit back when hooker Paul Gabriel was the recipient of a ball from the back of a ruck and powered over from eight yards, captain Mark Chester adding the conversion.

Chester’s penalty on 52 minutes took Morley seven points clear and despite wave after wave of Sandal attacks the home defence held firm.

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Huddersfield recorded their fifth win in six games, courtesy of a 27-21 success at home to fellow high-flyers Stockport. Huddersfield took a 17-0 lead inside the first 20 minutes, Joel Hinchliffe and skipper Nick Sharpe scoring tries.

The visitors hit back with two converted scores of their own, only for Huddersfield to cross again through Michael Clarke three minutes before the interval, fly-half Tom Hodson adding the goal to make it 22-14. Giles Hetherington’s try five minutes after half-time put Huddersfield firmly in the driver’s seat, meaning Stockport’s late converted try was only enough to earn them a point.

A lacklustre display from Beverley saw them lose out 35-22 at Billingham.

The home side were 14-0 ahead after just 14 minutes, with fly-half Peter Evans and full-back Luke Wilson touching down, Evans converting both tries on seven and 14 minutes.

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Beverley got off the mark with a 24th minute penalty from stand-off Phil Duboulay, but Evans was in fine form for the hosts and scored another try which he converted to put Billingham 21-3 ahead.

Beverley rallied in the second half and got back to 21-10 with a try by flanker Joe Pickets converted by Duboulay, but further home tries by Evans and centre Will Turnbull settled the outcome.

Beverley rallied and scored two late tries by Pickets and prop Sam Kerry with Duboulay adding one conversion, but it was too little too late.

After two excellent home wins The Bees were unable to continue their recent good form and were well beaten 22-5 by Westoe.

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It was a strangely flat performance from the Wagon Lane men, who failed to engineer much in the way of attack in the opening 40 minutes and also lost possession far too easily throughout the game, largely through unforced errors.

The opening score came on seven minutes as centre Mark Wilson burst through the Bees defence Westoe continued to hold the upper hand.

Adam Wellington’s injected industry when he was introduced and that was rewarded around the hour mark as he bustled over out wide on the left but they could not build on that.

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