West Leeds 40, Baildon 27

West Leeds are advertising throughout their clubhouse that they are only three matches away from Twickenham in the EDF Energy Junior Vase Trophy.

Yesterday, they forgot that Baildon were in the semi-finals last season and that they are back on the up in 2008.

The home side must have thought that lowly Baildon were to be a pushover, and at 22-5 at half-time who would have doubted them in this Yorkshire Division Three fixture?

What they hadn't taken into account, however, was that Baildon were starting to believe in themselves again.

Nick Murphy's try in the first half was just the start of a fightback, and at 30-22 with 20 minutes to go, West Leeds were the nervous team and under pressure.

First half tries by Makstyilzuk, Bedford, Caruthers and Thompson were followed in the second half by Bedford and Wilkinson crossing the whitewash before Baildon put the frighteners on.

Tries by Phil Wilson (2), Chris Smithies and Jon Picken showed that Baildon were full of fight and, without two soft tries by Stokes and Thompson in the last ten minutes, West Leeds would have been flattered with the final score of 40-27.

It was a good team performance by Baildon, who can only take heart from the last two matches and hopefully put relegation fears to bed.

Next weekend's club match gives the injury list a chance to lessen and who would now bet against Baildon showing the spirit and results of last season.