Bradford and Bingley thump Consett with eight-try salvo

ANOTHER stunning attacking display from Bradford and Bingley saw them earn their fourth win from five and become third top scorers in the North One East Division with 288 points.

The Bees have a break from league competition next weekend, before facing games against the three sides immediately above them in the standings, Morley, Percy Park and Bridlington.

If they are able to maintain their current form, they may enter the Christmas period in the thick of the promotion hunt, a remarkable recovery after being joint bottom of the table after four games played.

Consett were a far better side than their position at the foot of the table suggests and the manner in which the Bees ran in their eight tries was something to celebrate.

They gifted their north-east opponents an interception try after the interval, which momentarily brought the visitors back into the game, but these mistakes are gradually being eradicated.

Furthermore, all players are getting their hands on the ball in try-scoring positions. Through the first nine games of this season, 20 players have crossed the whitewash, 10 from the pack and 10 in the backs.

Seven of the Bees' tries on Saturday against Consett were converted by Tom Johnson, standing in on kicking duties for the absent Lance Taylor.

The first score arrived on six minutes, through Johnson himself, with the final one arriving in the 79th minute from Cameron Bainbridge, who claimed his seventh try of the season.

Jack Malthouse has also crossed the whitewash seven times this season, and is showing some real poise, pace and confidence under the new coaching regime of Anthony Posa and Hugh Gumbs.

His first hat trick in Bees colours should heighten that self belief, but even if the opposition can stop Malthouse, they will also have to contend with the frightening pace of Bainbridge and Aaron Magee in the Bees back three.

On this occasion, it was not until the 62nd minute that Magee's pace saw him score and Bainbridge left it later still, with a brace of tries in the final five minutes.

Consett played their part in an entertaining fixture and were rewarded with tries from both wingers, Dan Patchcott and Craig Sharplin, as well as scrum half Joe Trott. Full back Nick Cook added a penalty and two conversions.

Johnson and Malthouse's scores made it 14-0 after 20 minutes but the hosts' lead was trimmed to four soon after.

Malthouse crucially burst over on the half-time whistle to give the Bees some breathing space at 21-10, and the winger completed his hat-trick straight after the break.

Consett scored their aforementioned interception try and an errant pass from Tom Cummins almost gifted them another, before normal service was resumed with home forward Ali Macdonald plunging over the whitewash.

The Bees were now in full flow and ran in a further 21 points in the final 20 minutes, with a consolation score from Sharplin being Consett's only reply.