Gateshead Storm 16

Bradford Dudley Hill 68

Micky Piper continued to hit all the right notes in only his second appearance at stand-off for Dudley Hill.

He bagged a hat-trick of tries and kicked 11 goals in helping his side to a comprehensive National League Three victory over Gateshead Storm.

Piper's impressive display and his 34 points brought him the man-of-the-match award, but it was still a close-run thing as loose forward Paul Tordoff got four tries.

However, conceding 16 points to a Storm side that did not offer a great deal in attack will be of some concern to Hill's coaching staff.

Hooker Gareth Walker started the spree with a third-minute try after a weaving run from ten metres out, and Tordoff was over for his first two minutes later, following a 40-metre break by full back Lewis Evans, who was standing in for the unavailable Lee Innes.

Gareth Barron replied for Gateshead in the 11th minute, Rob Jones adding the goal, but normal service resumed in the 16th minute with Piper's first try following a nice inside pass.

Liam Jordan crossed in the 20th minute, and good handling put Tordoff in for his second three minutes later.

He completed his hat-trick on the half-hour, but the closing minutes of the first half belonged to Storm, Jimmy Atkinson and Adam Houston crossing for tries, Jones improving Atkinson's effort to make the interval score 36-16.

Tordoff bagged his fourth five minutes into the second half and, as the one-way traffic increased, there was a classic winger's try for Shearer Singh, two tries for substitute Gary Reid and one for forward Lee O'Connor. Piper completed his try hat-trick in the 72nd minute.