Northumbria Fail Screen Test

Northumbria's hopes of lifting the BUCS Super Eights title took a major knock on a night of thrilling Rugby League action in front of the Premier Sport cameras.

Matty Garside's men were looking to sentence University of Central Lancs (UCLAN) to a second defeat in as many weeks.

But in the archetypal game of two halves the hosts appeared stagestruck before the break.

And after opening the scoring through GB student star Garside, Northumbria barely moved out of their own half for the next 35 minutes.

A Chris Mugan hat-trick did the damage as the shaven headed paceman ripped through the home side's defence.

And a shellshocked Northumbria found themselves 32-6 down at half-time against the team rated 9-1 to win tonight's Percy Park encounter.

Head coach Kevin Neighbour must have found the right words to inspire his troops during the interval.

And Northumbria looked like a different team after the break with Garside adding a second try within minutes of the restart.

At 32-12 the comeback was on but the Poly's night took a turn for the worse following a mass brawl 14 minutes into the second half.

Referee Warren Turley deemed Northumbria's Sam Rothery the main offender and the substitute was red carded before UCLAN's Paul Lowery was shown a yellow.

Stunned into another period of sustained pressure the hosts scored two tries in the next six minutes - the latter a fine solo effort by impressive standoff Richard Squires.

And at 32-20 it was game on in front of a gripped national television audience.

Northumbria had two golden chances to bag converted tries only to fumble possession on the try line.

And those scores could have levelled a seesaw clash with less than 15 minutes to play.

But UCLAN's numerical advantage told in the closing stages and the visitors went over for a further two tries before the final whistle.

And Northumbria were left to reflect on what might have been as the rank outsiders pulled off a 44-20 win to avenge last month's Challenge Cup loss and lift themselves clear of the Super Eights basement.

SIMON RUSHWORTH

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