An incredible last gasp try by Simon Bradshaw saw Morley complete a comeback victory over Waterloo at Scatcherd Lane last Saturday.

The Maroons were behind for 77 minutes of their National League Three North match and trailed 19-0 after 24 minutes, but stuck to their task admirably and were rewarded in a dramatic finish.

After battling their way back through two Koby Gyasi tries and two goals by Bradshaw they were sti8ll four points behind going into the fourth and last minute of injury time when they were awarded a penalty and opting to set a scrum near the Waterloo line.

The initial forwards push was resisted so the ball was moved out to the backs. A stray pass appeared to have ended the attack when the ball went to ground, but Tom Clough, who had been impressive in a new centre role, hacked on. The ball took an amazing ricochet off a defenders leg to squirt out to the left where Bradshaw was onto it quick as a flash to pick up and score a match winning try.

It did not matter that he missed the concersion as refereee Dean Walker immediately blew for time and not for the first time this season Bradshaw was the toast of Morley and mobbed by his team mates.

Victory had looked miles off in the opening twenty minutes as the visitors, aided by dominance in the scrums and rucks, exerted huge early pressure and were rewarded with two tries scored by their srum half Tom Holloway.

The first from a blindside move on the right after seven minutes and the second a well taken effort as Holloway rounded Gyasi to finish off a move started by a 40 metre break by Andrew Trotter.

It took the Maroons 22 minutes to put together their first attack in their opponents' half, but after Sean Burke made good ground to the 22 it was their turn to camp on the try line and they were unlucky as Clough slipped at the vital moment and was unable to get a pass away to Bradshaw unmarked on his left.

As Morley tried to recycle the ball they lost it in a turnover and Waterloo countered from their line, going the full length of the pitch in a move finished by full back Sean Colbourne and drew applause from home fans. Liam Reeve's second conversion made it 19-0 and the Maroons had a real uphill battle.

Instead of caving in, however, the hosts hit back as player-coach Scott Benton back in the side at fly half, put Bradshaw through with a clever pass and the left winger then found right winger Gyasi who finished strongly in the corner.

It stayed 19-5 to half time, although the Maroons were relieved when Matthew Thompson charged down an attempted clearance kick by Scott Evans only to drop the ball over the line in trying to score.

Morley were forced to make changes in the second half with experienced duo Benton and Dave Hopton being forced to go off.

Waterloo again enjoyed more possession initially but did little with it and found it increasing difficult playing against a strong wind in the final quarter od the match.

Astute kicks pegged the visitors back in their own half and after the forwards had pounded the Waterloo line Gyasi forced his way over for what looked a perfectly good try to everybody except the badly positioned referee who denied the score to much dismay.

As it happened it did not matter as the pressure was maintained and there was no denying Gyasi again three minutes later as he found a hole near the line to score his second try.

Bradshaw added the conversion and the kicked a penalty five minutes from time to reduce the deficit to four points.

This set the scene for the astonishing grandstand finish and it was the Maroons doing the celebrating after snatching a truly remarkable fifth victory of the season.

Tony Harber - Morley Advertiser & Observer