Bradford & Bingley 34 West Leeds 19

A FIRST win of the season and a bonus point for scoring four tries lifts the Bees out of the relegation zone and should see the hosts begin to march up the North One East table after their early struggles.

Even though they have misfired over those opening four fixtures, things appear to be coming together at Wagon Lane under the guidance of Anthony Posa and Hugh Gumbs.

Playing uphill into the breeze, the home side had West Leeds under the cosh for much of the first half and it was no surprise when debutant Cameron Bainbridge crossed in the 37th minute to claim that vital fourth try.

The Bees opened purposefully and scored after four minutes. Good handling and pace in the backline flummoxed West Leeds and when the ball was recycled to skipper Tom Booth, he ignored the overlap and sped over the line.

Lance Taylor's conversion missed, but he would make amends later with some fine kicking to land three conversions and a penalty, despite the difficult breeze.

West Leeds' horrendous injury problems meant a call up for several youngsters. Their diminutive line-up showed pace, but they were giving away a huge weight advantage.

The Bees pack were unsurprisingly dominant in the scrums, but it took a further 17 minutes before their second try arrived. Jack Malthouse crashed onto a ball at pace and touched down at the foot of a post.

Taylor slotted that conversion, but Tim Pickersgill soon opened West Leeds' account at the other end. Campbell Breakwell converted and it was 12-7 with 25 minutes played.

That galvanised the home side into action, with Bradford & Bingley upping the pace and pinning the visitors in their own 22.

The ball was fed to Ryan Wederell, who capped his 250th game for the club with a score from five metres out. Taylor subsequently made it 19-7.

The hosts then introduced Bainbridge and with his first touch, he escaped from two West Leeds tackles and battered his way over in the right corner.

Taylor's excellent conversion completed the first half scoring and with Bradford & Bingley playing downhill with conditions in their favour, the home supporters expected the lead to increase further.

West Leeds upped their game significantly though, despite Adam Sutcliffe darting over on the left to put the hosts 31-7 ahead after 50 minutes.

The visitors had a youthful weapon in Sam Waddington, who is part of the Waddington clan that supplied Mark and Sam to the Bees in the late 1980s and early 90s, and the youngster crossed twice in quick succession.

Those scores pulled West Leeds back to 31-19 and suddenly it was the hosts who were required to defend.

Taylor did slot a penalty to keep the visitors two converted tries behind, but it was only late dogged defence that prevented West Leeds from claiming four tries and a bonus point themselves.

The two sides meet again next week in the Yorkshire Cup.