Bradford Dudley Hill crash to fourth defeat on spin

Dudley Hill’s woeful run continued with a fourth successive National Conference Division One defeat on their visit to Leeds outfit Milford Marlins.

The Parry Laners hit the front when Nathan Kitson sprinted clear down the left to find centre Gavin Mezals, who crossed in the corner.

The fourth-placed hosts replied with a converted try before full back Aiden Batty broke clear from 30 metres out to find the whitewash, leaving Kitson the chance to add the extras.

Milford took advantage of extra numbers when Hill had Elliot Cousin despatched to the sin-bin for dissent.

But with a narrow 12-10 home advantage at the interval, Hill looked to be well on song for next week’s visit to Premier Division leaders Wigan St Patrick’s in the Conference Challenge Trophy quarter-finals.

Yet it was not to be as seventh-placed Hill’s old defensive habits resurfaced on the restart and they found themselves deep in trouble trailing 30-10 with just ten minutes left.

A head-high shot on Hill forward Adam Jefferson sparked a fist fight that saw two Bradford players and one from Milford shown yellow cards.

It was Hill who took advantage with a try from Kyle Carter, once again converted by Kitson. But any chance of a comeback was killed off by a Marlins converted try just before the whistle.