Bradford & Bingley 32 Preston Grasshoppers 21

Bradford & Bingley centre Stuart Dixon has professed himself satisfied with his comeback match on Saturday following groin problems.

The 29-year-old, whose last National League match was the shock defeat at Macclesfield in October, said: "I felt really good, and I also have in the three second-team matches leading up to this.

"I had half-an-hour against Harrogate and then played full matches against Otley and Sedgley Park, which were great warm-ups."

Dixon has had the same injury as that which afflicted former Bradford Bulls player Jamie Peacock last season, and said: "I haven't had an operation yet, although I am on the NHS waiting list."

The Bees managed to gather another five-point haul as they increased their lead at the top to six points over Blaydon but third-placed Nuneaton are a more likely threat as they are only three points behind the North-easterners with a game in hand.

It was not a vintage display by the hosts but, having said that, their opponents were game and referee Matt Daubney's whistle allowed precious little flow to proceedings.

"We played well for the first 20 minutes but then we just seemed to ease off, like we did against Hull Ionians, and we don't put together a performance for 80 minutes," admitted Dixon.

"They have scored a hatful of points this season and they did well with the ball that they had to score three tries against us.

"We defended well. They were on our line a few times but we gifted them their first try as we had chance after chance to clear."

The strong-running three-quarter also feels that backchat by the Bees can also work against them.

He said: "We tend to argue every 50-50 decision and that always tends to go against you.

"We need to learn to bite our tongues a bit and then we would find that more of those 50-50 decisions would go for us."

The match against fourth-placed Hoppers was the start of the run-in for the Bees.

Next week they are at Tynedale, who have replaced Preston in fourth place, and their penultimate match is at home to Nuneaton on April 29.

The Bees also have a home derby against Cleckheaton the week before that, and Dixon said: "We just have to keep on winning, and we have a full-strength squad to pick from next week, including Tom Rhodes (at a wedding for the Preston match) and Barry Clark."

Dixon played an important part in Bradford & Bingley's first try in the third minute, making the incision.

Right winger Joe Simpson turned up on the left side of the field to help out and centre Jonny Leota completed a fine move, Simpson converting.

The hosts then made Hoppers scrum half Darren Wilson pay for his indisgression with their second try, prop Peter Hall getting on the end of the drive.

Flanker Ian Judson soon added a third try as the home forwards again showed their strength, but Hoppers, who were held up over the Bees line and then charged down a clearing kick, deserved the injury-time try that went to their skipper and No 8 Richard Morton, fly half Paul Bailey converting.

Simpson added a 46th-minute penalty but with Wilson and centre Oliver Viney becoming increasingly influential, Hoppers hit back with a Wilson try and Bailey goal in the 68th minute.

It was only when Bailey kicked to Bees full back Ben Greaves a minute later that the home crowd of 400 - swelled by a pre-match players' reunion - could really relax.

He chipped and chased, got the ball again via a colleague and backed himself on the outside, scrum half Joe Heta accepting his pass for the try.

Fly half Phil Greaves' powerful break brought a try for second row Bloues Volschenk in the 77th minute, and there was just enough time for Viney to show why he was selected for England Counties when he collected his own chip ahead to score in injury time, the scorer drop-kicking the conversion himself.