HINDPOOL Tigers found Bamber Bridge’s Swarbrick brothers too much of a handful as they slumped to a 36-18 defeat at Brisbane Park.

Twice the Tigers staged promising comebacks but in the end it was the visitors who finished stronger and won with something to spare.

Too often, Hindpool failed to make the most of promising build-ups and were given a lesson in finishing.

Hooker Jack Swarbrick struck twice with tries converted by brother Harry to take Bridge into a 12-0 lead, before Hindpool eventually found a way through and Adam Martin crashed over on the stroke of half-time.

Callum Daly’s goal cut the gap to six points and ten minutes into the second half they levelled things up when Stuart Travers was quickest to a short Daly kick ahead to snap up his chance.

For a spell it looked as though the game was swinging Hindpool’s way but they were stunned when Bridge skipper Danny Bateson made a defence-splitting break from deep inside his own half and had the ever-elusive Swarbrick in support to go in for his hat-trick.

The Tigers fell further behind when John Cookson scored from close range, but there was still plenty of fight left in them and hopes of a second comeback were raised when Rob Bower took a smart pass from Phil Cubiss to go in near the posts and the gap was back to six points.

But from then on, the visitors took charge and five minutes before the end scrum-half Brandon Dixon scored the try that killed off Hindpool’s hopes of strengthening their grip on a top three position in Division One.

A couple of minutes later Harvey May completed the rout with Bamber Bridge’s sixth try. Up the coast in the County Cup Final rehearsal, Barrow Island were beaten 22-4 by unbeaten Cumbria League leaders Distington.

Island’s only points came from a Luke Cresswell try but the defeat did nothing to dampen the spirits ahead of next month’s cup final.

In a tough, hard-fought game it was Distington who took their chances, although the home side were slightly flattered by the margin of victory. Ulverston got back to winning ways when they gained revenge over Hensingham at Dragley Beck.

Having lost 18-12 when the sides met earlier in the season, Ulverston were keen to end a run of five successive defeats that has seen them slide into the bottom half of the league table.

Tries from Liam High (2), Steve O’Connor (2) and Mark Dixon plus five goals from Conner Saunders earned them a comfortable 30-18 victory.

In the National Conference League there was rare success for Millom who halted their slump with a convincing 30-12 win at Elland.

Hanley Dawson led the way with two tries, with others coming from Dane Kelly, John Hodgson and Warwick Carter to lift the Woollybacks two points ahead of their Halifax opponents.

Askam’s trip to Salford ended in a 7-4 defeat which meant they dropped out of the top two in the second division, although they still have a couple of games in hand on their promotion rivals.

Askam’s second team continued their successful run in the Barrow and District League, beating a spirited young Hindpool side 68-0 to keep their place at the top of the table. Walney Central defeated Dalton 22-14.