Baildon 16, Old Modernians 5: Something magical has happened to Baildon since the turn of the year.

Having struggled for the first half of the season, notching only three wins in 13 matches, they have now won three on the bounce in Yorkshire Division Four, two of them against the section's better teams.

Victory at second-placed Doncaster Phoenix was followed by a demolition job on Wakefield Cougars (sixth), and the Jenny Laners completed their hat-trick with a league double over derby rivals Old Modernians to climb above them into ninth.

However, Baildon skipper James Dawson said: "This was the worst performance of the three.

"The previous home game against Wakefield Cougars we kicked downhill first and took them apart, but this time it didn't happen.

"In the early stages of the first half we had to hold Modernians out, and only turned round at half-time 6-0 up.

"But we had a good team meeting at half-time and worked for each other in the second half, played our hearts out and it got us a victory."

Modernians had showed their resilience nine days ago against Wetherby, recovering from a 27-10 half-time deficit to triumph 28-27 so Dawson knew things would be tough in the second half playing uphill.

But he said: "The first ten minutes after the interval were crucial. If they had got on top then they would really have gone for it.

"But they made a couple of mistakes because we put them under pressure, and they never really looked like winning after that.

"Nevertheless we didn't play well, but they say that is the sign of a good team - to win without playing well."

Modernians broke past the first tackler far too easily in the first half, but Baildon's defence performed strongly in their own 22.

The hosts were under steady pressure for the first 20 minutes or so until talented but temperamental full back Haydon Lister showed some deft footwork to side-step an opponent before clearing his lines.

Modernians knocked that kick on, and Baildon were able to benefit via two penalties from fly half Adam Campbell.

He added a third early in the second half and then came the game's pivotal moment. Lister fly-hacked the ball infield and was just able to win the race for the touchdown, Campbell's conversion making it 16-0 in the 48th minute.

Then centre Dave Hemming had a try ruled out for a double movement, and the rest of the match, a try and a near-miss by Mods right winger Andy Downes apart, was only notable for Baildon's defence and the increasing frustration of players on both sides.

Twice referee David Brooksbank of Keighley had to call the skippers together to try and tidy matters up, but he still sin-binned Baildon's right winger Nick Oddy (high tackle) and Mods prop and skipper David Taylor (dissent). Taylor was given his ten-minute 'rest' after explaining to the referee that he couldn't discipline his team-mate because he agreed with everything he said.

Baildon's second team triumphed 35-5 at Old Modernians with tries by Anthony Perrow (2), Nick Lister, Jason Taylor and man-of-the-match Steve McHugh, Lister adding two penalties and two conversions.