North One East: Guisborough 7 Bradford & Bingley 33

LAST Wednesday night, Martin Whitcombe and his Bradford & Bingley coaching team pencilled in an 18-man squad for the trip to Guisborough.

For the first time this season, the squad looked close to being what would be the strongest 18 available to them, but by the time the squad assembled in the changing rooms for the kick-off, there had been eight changes to that selection and the Bees were fielding their 35th different player this season as 17-year-old Mike Johannides pulled on his boots to complete the Bees bench.

This was their third bonus point win on the bounce, and after the game a delighted Whitcombe said: "Given the appalling weather and the number of changes to the side we had to make, that was an excellent performance.

"It was one of the best since I have been with the Bees. We asked Sam White, a front-rower to play at Nor 8, we had a 17-year-old putting a fine shift in the second row, another one, Connor Capper making his starting debut and I hadn't even met Alex Hamard until we got to the ground!

"Before a ball was kicked this season, we all agreed that survival was the club's priority this year.

"Staying in this division would be a success. The plan was to build a side over the next few seasons around these excellent youngsters we have at Wagon Lane but circumstances mean these lads are getting game-time now and they are doing a great job.

"We are on course to get 70-plus points this season, so maybe we can think beyond just survival and maybe our plans have accelerated a little bit. Let's see how we get on in the dark months after Christmas."

The glue which holds the Bees together, other than some terrific team spirit, was supposed to be Gerhard Nortier in the No 10 shirt and his emergence off the bench for the second half after six games out with injury underlined how important he is to this Bees side.

The home side were holding their own, and indeed were leading at the break as their heavy and somewhat ponderous pack benefited from the rain, mud and wind which dominated proceedings.

However, with Nortier leading the way and guiding his team around the field with an astute mixture of kicking and passing options, the Bees were suddenly able to put together passages of play which stretched the home defence and allowed the pace of Schalk Oosthuizen, Capper, Adam Sutcliffe and Hamard to start to dominate the game.

Capper scored the Bees' opener after 26 minutes in reply to an early try for Guisborough, the youngster outpacing his opposite number to zip home.

It was not just the backs who were winning the game for the Bees, however, as the forwards stuck to their task admirably throughout.

The commitment of the Bees pack was perhaps exemplified by the efforts of Matt Cochrane, who appeared to stop a Guisborough prop's charge for the line using only his head as the onrushing player was taken out by his ankles by Cochrane's dive, spilling the ball as a try appeared certain.

It was Cochrane who was first to score in the second period, plunging over for his second score in as many weeks in the first attack of the second half.

It was another forward next over the whitewash as Max Mountain dotted down to cap his best performance in a Bees shirt since arriving from Wharfedale.

So far this season, if there is one name which dominates the Bees scoresheet it is Oosthuizen, and this week was no exception as he crossed to secure the bonus point in the 66th minute, adding a five-pointer to his four conversions.

The Bees increasing dominance was underlined by a final score from wingman Sutcliffe.

The win sees the Bees well-placed in fifth, only six points off the play-off position but also, just as significantly, nearly halfway to their original target of at least 55 league points, which should normally be enough to see off any possibility of relegation.