North One East: Bradford & Bingley 22 Huddersfield YMCA 9

FUIFUI Moimoi may have been sin-binned for ten minutes, but was still an influential figure as relegation-threatened Bradford & Bingley climbed three places up the North One East table to seventh to be the best of the rest.

The 38-year-old Tongan rugby league star scored a try in the 31st minute with the first play after he came back on after a yellow card, and made a try in the second half for replacement James Morton.

Moimoi, who was discarded by Toronto Wolfpack last month following a pre-season camp in Portugal, said: "I am playing for the Bees because my cousins are here – Richard Tafa (second-team coach) and Inoke Finau (winger).

"I am waiting for an offer from rugby league but am taking it week by week with the Bees.

"I haven't played union since I was 13 and it is different.

"I didn't know many of the lads at my first training session, but they have made me welcome."

If it was a happy day for Moimoi, it was probably an even happier one for winger Morton, who is on the road back after a heart scare.

"My ventricular problem flared up against YMCA in October, so it was nice to score against them so soon after coming on."

Bees director of rugby Martin Whitcombe said: "We were disappointed with last week (lost 38-12 at West Hartlepool), so I was very pleased with how we responded.

"We played with intensity and spirit and our defence was fantastic."

Whitcombe added: "Fuifui is a really popular lad, has fitted in well and is a good team man."

Bradford & Bingley's defence was certainly tested early on as YMCA had three fine pieces of continuity on a pitch that was understandably very heavy, but they could not profit.

The opening score in the eighth minute came from nothing as a kick downfield was clumsily trapped by a YMCA defender in front of the mound.

It rolled a fair distance towards Finau, who was able to pick the ball up and stroll over.

Landing conversions or penalties out of the soft ground proved difficult, however, and not only did Tom Cummins miss the conversion but former Bees back Gavin Stead was off target with a penalty in the 13th minute.

Five minutes later, Moimoi was sin-binned for interference after YM had taken a quick tap penalty, and Stead put the visitors on the board with a penalty.

However, the hosts scored their second try a minute after that in the 20th minute.

A quick ball to the front of a line-out gave Bees skipper Tom Booth the chance to go over.

Cummins again missed the conversion, and Stead kept YMCA in the hunt with a second penalty success in the 25th minute in a game that had little flow.

Parramatta Eels legend Moimoi certainly made his presence felt inside a minute after returning following his yellow card, showing strength and determination to make the line from distance but again Cummins was off target with the kick that followed.

YMCA also lost a man to the sin bin in the 37th minute, referee Thomas Doig (West Yorkshire Society) giving scrum half Joah Bradley ten minutes for kicking the ball away, but the visitors survived when play was called back just before half-time when Cummins almost made the line.

Trailing 15-6 at the interval, YM's cause wasn't helped when Stead missed another penalty five minutes into the second half, but the centre did claim another three points in the 59th minute, four minutes after Bees replacement Manny Riaz was sin-binned for a no-arms tackle.

Morton, whose clean kit and shining pate made him stand out as all of the other players were almost indistinguishable muddy marvels, came on after an hour, and two minutes later supported Moimoi's break to score Bradford & Bingley's fourth try.

With 20 points unusually gaining them a four-try bonus point, kicking duties were given to fly half Tanner Lightfoot, and the South African made no mistake in conditions that were very unlike those back home in Cape Town, which could well be the first city in the modern world to run out of water.

Man of the match for the hosts in a good team performance was prop Michael Crotch, with Stead picking up the award for the visitors.

The victory enabled the Bees to move ahead of Cleckheaton, YMCA and Malton & Norton, but they are still only seven points from safety and have a tough end to their run-in so nothing is certain.