JOSH Bainbridge scored four tries as Yorkshire Carnegie defeated Rotherham Titans 43-9 in a white-rose derby yesterday at Headingley.

The hosts only led 10-6 after 20 minutes of this Greene King IPA Championship clash but were 24-9 ahead by half-time and added three more tries in the second half as they remained third in the table.

The visitors took the lead courtesy of a James McKinney penalty but it did not last long, Bainbridge claiming his eighth try of the season in the 13th minute, Kevin Sinfield's conversion making it 7-3.

Sinfield and McKinney then swapped penalties to end the first quarter but Bainbridge completed an eventful 40 minutes by scoring two tries from rolling mauls to bag his hat-trick, the man of the match also picking up a yellow card.

McKinney's third penalty finished the first-half scoring, Sinfield having converted Bainbridge's second and third tries.

His fourth try arrived after 55 minutes, seventh-placed Rotherham then suffering a couple of blows as Ali Birch was yellow carded and McKinney came off injured.

Carnegie ended the contest with a flourish, however, replacement Ben Hooper getting their fifth try, which Sinfield again improved, and Andy Forsyth, another replacement, making his mark by intercepting a pass near his line and running the length of the field for the sixth try, Sinfield once more adding the extras.

The attendance was 3,292 – the best of the season for Yorkshire Carnegie, who included former Wharfedale player Taylor Prell on the wing, Bradford Salem coach Phil Nilsen at hooker, and ex-Otley player Richard Beck and former Cleckheaton player Ryan Burrows at flanker and No 8 respectively.

On Saturday, Yorkshire Carnegie continue their quest for the play-offs with a match at 11th-placed Ealing Trailfinders.