Forwards lay path for Bees triumph

7:06pm Sunday 9th March 2008

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Preston Grasshoppers 19, Bradford & Bingley 21

As the clock ticked down to the end of normal time yesterday, Bradford & Bingley supporters in the Lightfoot Green crowd were still crossing fingers and willing the referee to blow for time as their side hung on grimly to their two-point advantage in this National League Three North encounter.

The touch judge on the near side indicated there were still eight minutes of injury time to play, although Grasshoppers' electronic scoreboard showed zero.

In the final five minutes of regulation time, the Bees had allowed Preston flanker Dewhurst to cross for two scores, pulling the home side right back into contention in a game which appeared to be all but over at half-time.

For the second week the Bees had galloped away with a 21-point lead in the first 20 minutes and looked to be cruising to victory, only to allow the opposition back into the game in the final quarter.

Only two textbook last-ditch tackles from Ben Greaves saved the Bees from probable defeat in that final period.

The Bees were seven points to the good while most of the crowd were still leaving the clubhouse as their forwards marched straight through their opposite numbers, with Patrick Pole landing at the bottom of the pile with the ball tucked under his arm.

Before the quarter-hour was up, the visitors had doubled their advantage as Jarryd Warren was propelled over the line in almost identical fashion.

Tom Rhodes landed both conversions and the home side looked utterly bewildered by this opening onslaught.

Preston were still trying to get their bearings when an initial surge from the Bees back row opened up a gaping hole for full back Ben Greaves to burst through, the home centres and full back almost seeming to escort him to the line.

For most of the first half, it was one-way traffic as the Bees sought the fourth try and a bonus point, Ian Judson leading by example in a man-of-the-match performance by the pack.

The Bees eight always got over the gain line and managed to snuff out the few attacking moments enjoyed by the home side.

In midfield, the visitors were led by Phil Greaves, who was looking back to his old self, barrelling defenders out of the way up the middle of the pitch.

It is a complete mystery what happened after half-time as it was the Hoppers forwards who were now running the show.

Hooker Richie Sands was first to benefit as the home eight drove over the line on the hour mark. Fifteen minutes later, Dewhurst was last man up as the home side repeated the trick and, with the home crowd roaring their side forwards, Dewhurst was on hand two minutes later to charge down a Rhodes clearance to set up that nail-biting finish.