Kells 36, Bradford Dudley Hill 22

Bradford Dudley Hill’s porous defence out wide proved to be their downfall in the 36-22 defeat at Kingstone Press National Conference League Division Two table-toppers Kells.

Hill paid the price for a lacklustre opening half-hour which saw them 26-0 adrift of their rampant Cumbrian hosts but, thanks to some top-class forward play from their recent signing Connor Wood, they doggedly fought their way back into the game.

Wood, who established his reputation as one of the best Pennine props when playing for West Bowling in the winter season, showed his pedigree has not deserted him by inspiring his new team-mates to score two rapid touchdowns from full back Dave Halley and stand-off Ryan Dickinson.

Scrum half Simon Sewell made sure of full reward from the boot to restore a measure of respectability in a 26-12 half-time scoreline.

When substitute hooker Kyle Carter scampered in shortly after the restart and Sewell slotted over the extras, Hill’s hopes soared further but Kells' classy centre Connor Holliday scuppered any thoughts of an upset when he posted his hat-trick on the hour mark.

A try from debutant James Morton from Bradford & Bingley kept the Hill pot boiling.

However, the game was settled beyond any doubt when Holliday completed his fine afternoon's work with his fourth touchdown and bagged himself the man-of-the-match award in the process.