Maximum haul for Bees as they survive late scare

BRADFORD & Bingley survived a second-half Horden comeback to secure five vital points in their battle to avoid relegation from SSE National League Three North.

The Bees had first use of a strong wind and led 20-8 against their rock-bottom hosts by half-time.

They extended that to 30-8 with 19 minutes left, only for Horden to score 19 points to leave the score at 30-27 after 73 minutes.

However, Bees player-coach Stuart Dixon made the match safe with a try four minutes into added time, making himself the ninth forward, scrum half Richard Scull adding the conversion.

The visitors were without wingers Harry Hall (tonsillitis) and James Morton (head injury) but had Tom Bills back from Huddersfield, and he played in the centre, with Dixon reverting to the wing.

Fly half Shaun Driver, lock Brett Mitchell and flanker Dan Cookson scored first-half tries for the Bees, Scull adding a penalty and a conversion. They also scored the first ten points of the second half.

Driver got his second try and Scull also crossed from a line-out, only for the visitors to then take their foot off the gas, thinking the match was in the bag.

Lock Harry Jeffrey was man of the match, centre Richard Tafa pushing him close, and the Bees, who now have four massive matches, three of which are at home, are only two points from safety.