Hoppers keep momentum going with impressive away win

Hoppers absorbed an early home onslaught to take control and, although a temporary loss of focus allowed Morley to hit back with two tries in the second period, they proved worthy winners and the 4-try bonus point lifts them to 6th in the table.

The visitors took time to settle and sustained home pressure and possession brought a penalty for Bradshaw and drop goal for Burnell to put the home side 6 points ahead within 6 minutes before Mark Edwards replied when Morley were penalised when receiving kick off.

Hoppers’ pack were struggling in the tight, conceding a free kick and a strike against the head but, in the 18th minute, Luke Cunningham was upended in a line out and, in the ensuing fracas, Rich Morton and home flanker, Hamilton were despatched to the sin bin. Hoppers opted to kick for touch with the penalty and it paid off as, after a long driving maul, Cameron Berry touched down Edwards’ delicate grubber but the kick sailed wide.

While Morley kicked away much of their possession, Hoppers’ pack began to assert themselves and another long penalty to touch produced a forward drive, John Peterson claiming the touchdown and Edwards’ conversion extended the lead.

Morley took a leaf out of Hoppers’ book and, surprisingly, passed up two eminently kickable penalties in favour of touch and catch and drives but a much-improved defence kept them out and the score remained 15-6 at the break.

Whatever coach Dave Baldwin said to his pack during the interval, it certainly had an effect as they produced a turnover at the first scrum and Tom Ball’s scorching break was rounded off by Matt Hughes, Edwards converting.

Hoppers continued to turn the screw and on 51 minutes, another Edwards grubber was seized on by Matt Hughes and the winger again used his pace to outstrip the defence and the conversion was good.

With the bonus point in the bag, Hoppers rang the changes from the bench but lost possession in mid-field was exploited by the home backs and wing Bradshaw converted his own try to reduce the deficit.

Edwards replied with a penalty on 60 minutes but Morley raised their game and a storming break by lock Stannard set up a platform from which recycled ball brought a second try for Bradshaw but his kick rebounded off a post.

But any chance of a late home comeback was snuffed out as Hoppers dominated the last 10 minutes and, after home prop Gabriel saw yellow for a ruck offence, more forward pressure took play deep into the 22 and, when the ball was released, prolific centre Tom Hughes powered over for his 9th try of the season and Edwards’ conversion brought him a 14-point haul.