Baildon 13, Rotherham Phoenix 8

It was fitting that centre Joe Moore, playing his last game for Baildon before going to Bath University, signed off with a try that helped to defeat Yorkshire Division Three leaders Rotherham Phoenix 13-8 at Jenny Lane yesterday.

He latched onto a short pass 30 yards out on the half-hour and slipped through the narrowest of gaps before using his electrifying pace to round the full back and touch down near the posts for his 18th try of the season in all competitions.

Home fly half Steve Wilson added a penalty and a conversion, Baildon leading 10-0 at the break Rotherham pulled it back to 10-8 before Wilson’s late penalty but he was helped by a sterling effort by the home pack, who wrested control from the visitors.

After an attritional first quarter, Wilson broke the deadlock with a penalty on 20 minutes after Phoenix were caught offside at the maul.

Rotherham came out with more purpose after the break and scored a well-worked try on 45 minutes after incessant pressure on the Baildon line.

A further penalty on 53 minutes brought them to within two points of Baildon, and at that point looked to be well in charge.

However, Baildon’s forwards rallied and started to generate quick ball for scrum half and captain-of-the-day James Dawson to release his backs.

It was from this increased urgency and domination by the home pack that Rotherham eventually infringed at the ruck, giving Wilson the opportunity to score his second well-struck penalty from fully 40 yards on 76 minutes.

A tense last few minutes again saw Rotherham exert pressure on Baildon’s line but were repelled by some determined defence, typified by centre Marcus Dracup, who tackled and carried the ball bravely and intelligently.

At the final whistle, it was Baildon who came out deserved winners and consolidated their sixth position in the table.