Shock defeat consigns Bradford Dudley Hill to play-offs

BRADFORD Dudley Hill's hopes of an automatic Kingstone Press National Conference League Division Two promotion place came to an end following this surprise one-point home defeat.

The Parry Laners made the best possible start when hooker Kyle Carter reached the whitewash with only five minutes on the clock, and second-row forward Damian Smith quickly added another touchdown, leaving stand-off Nathan Kitson to add his second conversion and put Hill firmly in command at 12-0.

However, the visitors made inroads into the deficit by grabbing back the initiative with two unconverted touchdowns before a smart drop goal from Kitson bang on the half-time whistle put Hill into the sheds 13-8 in front.

In the second stanza, both sides locked horns in a bid for supremacy, and Hill looked to have landed the knockout blow when wingman Neil Wall crossed out wide.

However, it was the Leigh side who rewrote the script with man of the match, scrum half Ryan Peters, dictating events to create three quick tries and a conversion to establish a 22-17 lead.

Home hopes were revived when Smith collected his brace but it was too late to prevent a defeat that now ensures Hill will have to rely on the third to sixth-placed play-offs if they are to go up a tier.