NEW Brighton put themselves firmly back into the promotion frame with victory in a tremendous Reeds Lane battle with Yorkshire rivals Sandal on Saturday.

The game went ahead only after a morning ground inspection determined the pitch playable but despite a flying start from the home side it was touch and go to the death against committed visitors.

Injuries forced a re-alignment in the New Brighton backs division, with Paul Brett and Emrys Evans forming a new centre pairing, but you would never have guessed it in the opening minutes.

An early line-out in the opponents 22 saw Paul Campbell soar to grab possession and set up the pack for a hefty drive to create the opening score. Though Brett missed the conversion it was just the start the Blues needed.

Within five minutes of kick off the lead was stretched further thanks to the lively Matt Bennett at scrum half. He launched the backs on a pacy move in front of the posts which saw Sandal penalised for off side and Brett's penalty made it 8-0.

Such was New Brighton's early forward domination that no-one foresaw the drama that was to follow.

With the home side forcing the pace the ball was turned over to allow Sandal to set up their first attack of the game from deep in their own half. There seemed no danger but Jamie Barker, a big rugby league centre with pace to burn, had other ideas as he cut through New Brighton's defence single-handed to touch down. Mark Sales added the extras game on!

Injuries stopped the flow of play for both teams on a bone hard surface, with Steve Dorrington and Andy Wilson coming on as replacements for Blues, who were still creating most of the pressure.

Two penalty chances were passed up as New Brighton chose to run the ball, and from one such move skipper Geoff Jones broke the defence and set up an attacking ruck from which Steve Bellis drove over to score and make it 13-7.

Events then went pear-shaped for the hosts as Sandal's backs came more and more into the game, looking dangerous with every break. And with half time approaching, full back Wolff ran in for a try which Sales converted to give his side a surprise half time lead.

Immediately after the restart the picture became even blacker as Barker and Wolff again combined for the full back to touch down between the posts. With the conversion added it meant New Brighton trailed by two scores and the crowd was suddenly quieter.

Resilience, persistence and a steel will are qualities which are needed by any successful team, though, and that is just what skipper Jones showed as he led the fightback from the front inspiring his men to follow suit.

The riposte was immediate, with Jones and Matt Bennett unloading for Brett to give Emrys Evans the chance to finish off in style and score. But once again the kick was missed.

Wave after wave of Blues attacks followed and although Sandal tried to stem the flow it seemed inevitable the break would come. And so it was when another Campbell line-out win saw a sea of bodies crash over the line and the try awarded to Steve Dorrington. Pearson failed with the conversion this time.

Sandal were not done yet, though, and Matt Bacon's slick pass found Sales in space. He handed on to prop Rob Dawson and it was pacy centre Barker who again raced in to finish off the move and restore the away lead at 28-23.

With time now running out and last week's defeat still fresh in the memory, a second try from Evans, converted by Brett, gave New Brighton the vital lead. And just to insure against an upset, Bellis ran in for another score within seconds of the final whistle.

This week, New Brighton travel to Aspatria in West Cumbria.