Baildon 6, Hullensians 3 - If this had been a top-flight soccer fixture, Match of the Day or The Premiership would probably have contented themselves with only showing David Wilde's winning penalty kick.

Sky's Goals On Sunday - who have more time to play with - might have showed Wilde's two successful kicks, the solitary reply by Hullensians' Paul Edwards and the passage of play which almost brought tries for replacement forward Phil Wilson and scrum half James Dawson.

But, when you are third from bottom at home to a team who are fifth - and seven points better off than you - it is fair to say that the result matters more than the performance.

At least that's what Baildon will be telling themselves after this crucial victory.

I genuinely felt sorry for the spectators and wondered how much admission money they had each paid, until I found out it was "voluntary contributions" only.

But the players should not bear the sole brunt of criticism.

Referee Tony Cook from Guisborough often left it too long before blowing his whistle to break up rucks or mauls, and it was little wonder that players' tempers became frayed in an increasingly fragmented second half.

Baildon flanker Nick Murphy was sin-binned for "dangerous use of the boot" inside the final ten minutes, but a defence that has leaked more points than any side in the division except bottom club Mosborough comfortably held on to record their fourth success of the campaign and move up a place.

Baildon skipper Dave Ruff, who was sporting a king shiner underneath an eye after an accidental clash of heads, said: "We wanted to play a more expansive game, because we thought we had the beating of them outside, but we didn't get any second-phase ball.

"We had enough chances to score - Phil and James both went close - but we are not finishing sides off."

Added Ruff: "We had four or five kickable penalties, and could easily have won 15-6.

"But we are not clinical enough, and that is a combination of our fitness and not being able to finish things off.

"However, our scrum was very solid, though we have a bit of work to do on our line-outs."

Hullensians' chairman Phil Padgett, who also ran touch, said: "It was a dour match and very scrappy, but Baildon deserved their victory and scrapped better than us for it.

"The 6-3 score was about right, and we never looked like scoring a try. We just can't win away from home."