North One East: Percy Park 28 Bradford & Bingley 40

BRADFORD & Bingley's director of rugby Martin Whitcombe is not a man usually known for public displays of emotion, but after seeing his side run in 40 points in the second half to claim this North One East victory, he was beside himself in celebrating an astonishing comeback.

Whitcombe said: "That was a superb performance - absolutely first class. I know these lads have got a great spirit and I know they don't ever give in, but at 21-0 just after half-time, you could only hope that we could rescue something from this fixture.

"But the way the boys responded was superb. Everyone in the 18 can be proud of themselves, everyone gave everything and I am absolutely delighted.

"It all started from our eight, nine and ten. Tom Cummins was outstanding, but young Alvarro Cassas at scrum half was up there with him, and in the second half I don't think Jack Malthouse put a foot wrong.

"Away points are difficult to come by in this division and we have taken 12 from a possible 15 and we are getting better as the season goes on."

Cummins claimed his ninth and tenth tries of the season and also added five pots at goal.

Those ten tries puts him on pace to join an elite band of players who have collected 25 or more tries in a single season in Bees colours, and oddly all three players who have achieved that feat also wore the No 8  shirt - Jonny Moore (who is aware of Cummins' try-scoring feats), Chris Hala'uifa and Guy Ford.

The outstanding Cummins was at the heart of everything the Bees did well in the second 40 minutes.

Also skipper Tom Booth, was back in his favourite No 6 shirt alongside Cummins in the back row, consistently got the Bees over the gain line and a bewildered Percy Park had no answer to the swarming West Yorkshire pack.

Half-backs Cassas and Malthouse probably met for the first time on the training paddock last Thursday, but they too were instrumental in getting the Bees going forward.

With the wind favouring the Bees in the second half, Malthouse kicked superbly but Cassas always looked dangerous, with quick hands and quick feet giving the Bees options from every breakdown.

The Madrid-born No 9 is still two weeks short of his 18th birthday but showed a confidence way beyond his years and adds another weapon to Whitcombe's arsenal of choices at scrum half, with the Jeffrey brothers both unavailable for this game. 

Percy Park had turned round 14-0 ahead, but with the wind now at their backs, the Bees must have thought that a two-try disadvantage was not insurmountable, but it was Percy Park who scored first, taking a 21-point lead.

Benny Greaves then pounced on a loose ball to nick one back for the Bees, but almost straight from the kick-off, Percy Park were back over the whitewash and claiming a fourth try and the bonus point.

Whether this meant that the home side lost concentration or gave the Bees a sudden jolt into action, the whole nature of the game now switched to everything being about the Wagon Lane side.

A penalty try confirmed the Bees superiority in the tight, with Ryan Wederell then ploughing over from short range to pull the Bees to within seven.

Cummins was next on the scoresheet out wide by the corner flag, and blasted the conversion over from the narrow angle.

The game was now tied at 28-28 apiece, but the Bees were very much in control, and it was Malthouse who was next on the scoresheet as the game entered the final ten minutes.

There was no let up from the Bees pack, however, and Cummins was again on hand to grab the score and convert the try himself to put the result beyond doubt.