Teesside suffered another heavy defeat on their travels they played Belle Isle in Leeds on Saturday. The Steelers played with another scratch team after several late cry offs left them struggling to raise a side. Despite all their problems the Steelers put in a good performance for the 65 minutes of the game trailing by 20pts - 15 before three late tries sealed it for the Yorkshiremen.
Teesside started the half well and put the first points on the board when Derrick Lowe picked up the ball from 30 yards out and raced through the Belle Isle defence to score under the posts (0-4). Belle Isle then took advantage of a lapse in concentration by the Steelers defence, and Barnett took the ball at pace and shot through a gap to score, Jennings converting (6-4). Teesside regained the lead, after a rather scrappy 20-minute period when Reilly fed Fretwell who barged his way over (6-8). The Steelers then increased their lead further when skipper Lloyd Darby added a drop goal (6-9). Belle Isle then hit a purple patch scoring two tries in the final five minutes of the half, the first was through Dobb who dummied his way over from half back and the second was from Starky who bust the Steelers line and scored in the corner, Jennings added one conversion (16-9). Half time.
Belle Isle started the second half as they finished the first with Barnett scoring his second after a fine handling move involving all the Belle Isle three-quarter line (20-9). The Steelers then started to find some form, and they spent the next 15 minutes camped in the Belle Isle half. Taylor and Dunn went close before the impressive Reilly off loaded to Crowe who scored by the posts, Taylor converting (20-15). The Steelers again went close through Day and Boyd, but just couldn't breach the Belle Isle line. Teesside's hopes of winning went when Barnett scooped up a loose ball and raced 60 yards to complete his hat trick, Jennings converting (26-15). Teesside again tried to get back in the game but that defence splitting pass just eluded them. Belle Isle made certain of the points when Barnett scored his fourth and Parkin regathered his own kick to score by the posts and Jennings converted them both, (38-15). FULL TIME.