Billingham v Huddersfield Y.M.C.A Match Report Provided by Evening Gazette

A resurgent Billingham ended their three-match losing run in National Three North by seeing off Huddersfield YMCA 36-34 at Greenwood Road.

Tries from Dan Burns, Peter Evans, Anth Jackson, Chris Hopkins, Shaun Wallace and Craig Shepherd earned the hosts a valuable bonus point victory - but the result should have been more one-sided.

Cruising in the final 10 minutes at 36-20, Billingham conceded two late tries to hand the visitors two losing bonus points and draw to within a single score.

Returning to winning ways was the priority for Chris Hyndman’s side after back-to-back disappointments at Rossendale and Cleckheaton - and they got off to a good start on home soil.

Gavin Stead gave Huddersfield an early lead with a penalty, but on 18 minutes Burns charged over to hand Billingham the advantage.

On an afternoon when flowing rugby was in constant supply, the visitors hit back almost instantly when winger Tom Bullock touched down - before Billingham full-back Peter Evans’ wonderful solo effort left the score at 14-10.

Another Stead penalty drew Huddersfield to within one point, but a superb break from Hyndman saw him offload to Jackson who ran unchallenged under the posts.

But Billingham’s Achilles heel came back to haunt them again before half-time, conceding a try moments after they had scored one of their own - this time Huddersfield lock Jamie Bell finishing from close range.

With the scoreline at 21-20, the second half looked to be a tight affair - but three quick-fire Billingham tries wrapped up the win. Hopkins, Wallace and Shepherd all struck within 15 minutes to hand the hosts an unassailable lead.

But a late collapse saw Billingham give away two cheap scores - one a penalty try after an infringement at the scrum - to leave the scoreline too close for comfort.