Stockport 20, Bradford & Bingley 13

The Bees hung on to second spot in the division despite losing their fourth game in five outings.

However, third-placed Ches-ter will overtake them if they win their game in hand.

Stockport’s victory confirmed them as league champions but there was much to savour in the Bees performance that bodes well for the club, whichever division they start next season.

The hosts looked the better side for much of the first half but, for long periods after the break, it was the visitors who enjoyed the upper hand.

Since taking over in October, Martin Whitcombe said he wanted to build a squad which could be together for several years and blooding youngsters was the best way to do it.

And Saturday’s match-day squad had seven or eight players who were 21 or younger, two of them, in Aiden Scully and James Brown, still qualifying at Under-19 level.

The initial exchanges were dominated by a physical Stockport side. If their back line had looked after the ball better, they would have had more than Nick Smith’s 25th-minute score on the board in the opening half-hour.

As it was, Stockport’s mistakes combined with the increasing confidence of the Bees, meant there was everything to play for.

Although the Bees lost Grant Litt to a shoulder injury, Giles Hetherington and Steve Brimacombe both looked to be enjoying some space in midfield.

With James Holland moving to the centre to cover for Litt, it made the visitors more direct.

The Bees looked like turning round only 8-3 in arrears but winger James Drew touched down on the stroke of half-time.

With the breeze at their backs, the visitors were very much in contention after the break, as Giles Hetherington’s kicks gained excellent field position.

With skipper-for-the-day Guy Ford to the fore, their pressure was rewarded with a try in the left-hand corner from Tom Gough, following up a clever chip from Hetherington.

Gavin Stead’s conversion brought the game to 13-10.

However, Stockport re-grouped as Tom Cruse touched down with around ten minutes to play.

The Bees refused to back down but could only claim another Stead penalty to pull themselves within seven to claim the losing bonus point.