BRADFORD and Bingley succumbed to a third defeat in a row in North One East, crashing 29-5 to Morpeth.

This means Bees' record for the season after 16 league games reads eight wins and eight defeats.

Despite the game still being evenly poised as the hour mark passed, the Bees again conceded late tries to see the game drift away.

The score was only 8-5 in Morpeth's favour until the 63rd minute, but tries in the 63rd, 69th and second minute of stoppage time were enough to see the Northumbrian side home by a deceptively comfortable margin.

With a stiff chilly breeze blowing down the Aire Valley, conditions were never likely to suit Bradford and Bingley's expansive style of play.

Whenever the ball was kicked clear, it seemed to travel 50 or 60 metres with the wind pushing the ball towards Saltaire, although the home side kept trying to break free by playing the ball through the hands.

The game looked set to be heading into half time scoreless as Morpeth could not break the Bees defence as they toiled into the elements.

The hosts looked unlikely to break the Morpeth line despite the wind and the slope giving them an advantage.

However, as the watch ticked into time added on, Morpeth took the lead through a Ben Hornby penalty.

The same player increased the visitors' lead with a try two minutes later, meaning the sides turned round at 8-0 to the visitors.

Although many spectators thought the final pass to J Hornby was possibly forward. The conversion was charged down as Hornby tried to counter the strong wind with a low blast into the elements.

The home side came out for the second half looking far more purposeful in all aspects of their play and, despite playing into the wind and up the hill towards the cricket field, looked the better side for the opening ten minutes of the half.

Tanner Lightfoot, making his seasonal debut, standing in for the injured Stefan Roguski at centre, was at his industrious best and kept prodding and probing up the left wing with Jack Malthouse looking for a half chance to show his speed on the outside of Lightfoot.

With 49 minutes gone, the Bees' endeavours were rewarded as Aaron Magee sped over wide on the left as the Bees engineered a slight gap in the Morpeth defence for Magee to charge through. The conversion attempt from Lance Taylor danced around on the wind before fading at the last.

Jack Elliot, the Morpeth scrum half, was over the whitewash in the 63rd minute for the visitors, with Hornby adding the extras.

Andy Telford followed with another score in the 69th minute, again converted by Hornby.

As time ran past the 80-minute mark, the Bees were desperately trying to score to reduce the final deficit. But the ball went astray and Jonny Ward was able to gallop home for the final try, improved again by Hornby.