SSE Yorkshire Division Three

Aireborough 15

Old Grovians 55

OLD Grovians gave further evidence with this derby victory that they are real contenders for promotion in only their second season at this level.

Losing bonus points helped them into mid-table last season but the extra points this time around are more often than not coming from scoring four or more tries.

Despite being without fliers Aaron Magee and Dion Hendricks, they ran in nine tries against weakened hosts, and that was enough to lift the Apperley Bridge club into sole leadership of the division, with Thornensians, Castleford and Northallerton likely to provide their sternest rivals over the course of the campaign.

"We had too much pace in the backs and we were strong in the forwards," said a delighted Grovians' skipper Chris Baines.

"And the chances that Aireborough got early on came from our errors but it was important that we got the four-try bonus point as they could prove crucial by the end of the season.

"We have improved since last season and we are getting better week by week."

No 8 Baines' most worrying moment came when he was sin binned for a tip-tackle in the 26th minute.

Fortunately for him, Aireborough prop Neil Gardener landed on his back rather than his head or neck, otherwise referee Tony Kenworthy would surely have brandished a red card.

The unavailabilities were too much for Aireborough to cope with.

"As soon as they took the ball out wide, they had the edge as we were playing people out of position," said home skipper Nick Jackson.

"It is difficult trying to play more structured rugby with different personnel rather than playing it off the cuff as we used to."

Aireborough are currently one place above a relegation berth, and Jackson added: "We will just try and get as many wins as we can before the end of the season and see where we end up."

The home side contributed to conceding the first try in the eighth minute, the ball being lost in midfield, Old Grovians centre Anthony Griffin profiting for slimmed-down fly half Adam Weaving to convert.

Winger Jim Yates got the second try on 15 minutes but the visitors conceding two penalties in succession then gave Aireborough the platform for hooker Jackson to score.

Grovians' scrum half Joe Harrison capped a lively display with the visitors' third try and, although home fly half Nick Holdsworth kicked the penalty for Baines' yellow card, centreDom Copsey got the bonus-point try in the 32nd minute from Yates' inside pass.

Although flanker Jonny Mackey crossed for Aireborough in the second half, Holdsworth converting, Old Grovians added further tries by Yates, Griffin, lock Joe Lawrence, full back Ben Brown and Adam Weaving, the latter converting three, including two from the touchline.