Captain Field and Bradshaw put Morley on course for title

This important win over second-placed Stockport gave Morley a four-point lead at the top of the table, with a much better points difference and with a game in hand.

Third-placed Carlisle, who, like Morley, have played 15 games, are now 13 points back.

Although they had been out of action in recent weeks, Morley came rapidly out of the blocks and scored all their points in the opening 17 minutes.

Captain Craig Field put them on their way after six minutes. Simon Bradshaw added the conversion and then ran in Morley's second try, which he also converted.

Two successful penalties from Bradshaw gave the home side a comfortable lead but the visitors did not give up and started to fight their way back into contention.

They used their pack to try to bludgeon their way past Morley and had some success when No 8 Dave Marwick crashed over. Prop Tom Cruise grabbed a second with 12 minutes to go but Morley held firm and, in the end, looked the more likely to add to the scoreline.

Cleckheaton 10

Chester 14

Cleckheaton started this game after a six-week lay-off with an early try but the lack of discipline and the boot of Rhys Hayes denied them a winning start to the New Year.

Cleckheaton started well with Dom Castle braking the Chester defence within two minutes and Pete Murphy going over for a try, which Ross Hayden converted.

Chester pulled three points back with a penalty in the 12th minute from Hayes but, despite conceding two penalties, further pressure was repelled by Cleckheaton until the 22nd minute whent Dave Leggett went in for a try, Hayes hitting the post with his conversion attempt.

The game flowed but it was not until the 38th minute that Hayes again converted a penalty before Hayden responded with another. Cleckheaton had a chance late in stoppage time but the ball went to ground.

Hayes converted a penalty soon after the interval but the referee then lost patience as neither side could exert a measure of control.

Cleckheaton had lost Lance Hamilton to the sin bin in the 40th minute and he was followed by James Farrell in the 50th.

Liam Lawton was binned for a late tackle on Hayden on the hour and Richard Piper was also yellow-carded.

A lack of ball control was plain to see and there were no further scores. On the plus side for Cleckheaton, they claimed a bonus point, but the table shows they need to start winning soon to stay in the league.