Rugby Union: Bradford and Bingley 29, Vale of Lune 5.

Bradford and Bingley's new coach Colin Hay is not an easy man to please.

His side sit at the top of Thwaites North Division Two on points difference from also-unbeaten Driffield.

And to get there the Bees ended the 100 per cent record of Vale of Lune, who were leading the table before the kick-off.

But Hay - a nice bloke who doesn't talk ten to the dozen when it comes to speaking to the press - took several seconds to answer when I asked him what he liked best about the display.

Eventually he said: "I was quite pleased with the scrummaging compared to last week against West Park Bramhope."

Then he added: "One day we will put it together and really take someone to the cleaners."

Wagon Lane is certainly a happy place to be at the moment, and Hay admitted that he has developed a near-instant rapport with the players, which has undoubtedly helped.

Vale of Lune arrived a few players under strength, and were 10-0 behind in as many minutes as Bradford and Bingley made a characteristically strong start.

Matthew Inman kicked a fifth-minute penalty and, after surviving two scrums near their own line, the Bees broke out, centre Hugh Gumbs gathering his own chip ahead to force his way over by the right corner flag, Inman adding a superb conversion.

Although they were still a threat from long-distance three-quarter movements, Bradford and Bingley must have been pleased to reach the interval without conceding any points against good quality opposition.

Vale of Lune continued at the same high tempo after the interval, and had their reward when left winger Andy Garnett took advantage of an overlap to score a try.

But then the Bees clinched the match with two wonderful tries.

Inman got the first, taking skipper Richard Petyt's long pass at speed and running 40 metres for a try, Vale's defence thinking he was going to pass to his right.

That was in the 50th minute, but the visitors dominated first and second-phase possession for the next 20 minutes, Bradford and Bingley's defence being stretched but not broken. Fly half Petyt got the other classy try in the 74th minute, spotting a gap and running a good 30 metres to the line, throwing a couple of delightful dummies along the way.

Inman's conversion was easy, but his last success in the final minute was much more difficult, coming after right winger Asa Firth had fed full back Mark Coultas, who won the race to touch down his own kick through, Firth being obstructed to boot on the Vale line.

It was a fine display by the home team, and one which was as pleasing defensively as it was offensively.

But there should not be any hint of complacency. The 22-match league season is only four games old, Hay is not a man to allow such laxity, and next week's opponents Chester had a superb 17-3 victory at Morpeth, whose pack are no mugs.

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