SSE Yorkshire Division Three: Aireborough 23 Baildon 21

A PENALTY goal four minutes into injury-time gave Aireborough victory and also ensured their safety.

It looked as if the spoils would go to Baildon when they were awarded a penalty try in the 79th minute, Oli Waddington's conversion giving them a 21-20 lead.

However, Aireborough fly half Nick Holdsworth, who had missed a penalty in the 81st minute, stroked his final effort between the posts to signal victory and the end of the game.

The 30-year-old half-back explained: "There were two-and-a-half minutes left when I had my first kick, and the idea was to aim for the right post and drift it in, but there was no wind.

"However, it was just a warm-up for my later kick when I shut my eyes – but the game could have gone either way!"

Although the losing bonus point also made Baildon safe, relegating Hemsworth and either Burley or Rotherham Phoenix, they were left feeling frustrated.

Visiting fly half Olli Waddington felt his team deserved a draw, claiming his side should have had points for a conversion which weren't given. He said: "My conversion of Dan Fletcher's try went over but there is nothing you can do about it."

With a crosswind blowing towards the airport, Baildon made their usual slow start, Tony Clitheroe still having time to slither over on the left for Aireborough in the fourth minute, despite the move containing a loose pass.

The visitors, who almost scored a try when centre Matt Withers hacked on, went ahead via two Waddington penalties and, with an edge in the scrum, also created a try on the right for Fletcher, referee Duncan Chandler (Leicestershire Society) and both touch judges being unsure as to whether Waddington's conversion was good, so they disallowed it.

However, there was no half-time lead for Baildon as flanker Adam Jackson scored for the hosts in the 39th minute, Holdsworth converting for 12-11.

Holdsworth and Waddington then swapped penalties either side of Withers being sin-binned for using his shoulder in a tackle, before, with Baildon shipping penalties, Clitheroe went over for his second try in the 66th minute, awarded after consultation with the visitors' touch judge.

This gave Aire a 20-14 lead and set up the frantic final ten minutes, Baildon being denied a try on the right touchline for prop Paul Dobson in the 76th minute before the referee and Holdsworth took centre stage.