AN entertaining match with nine tries unfortunately got away from Hoppers in the second half.

As so often this season their attacking flair was not match by defensive know-how and although they scored four good tries Waterloo went one better.

An horrendous start saw the visitors take a 35 second lead with a gift wrapped try.

Hoppers hit back with a try by Paul Bailey who raced in from 70 metres after a timely interception by John Chesworth but Waterloo immediately scored again to give them a 10-5 lead after just seven minutes.

The seesaw continued with Hoppers scoring twice in three minutes. Sengili Tuihalamaka scored the first try which he converted and then Sam Houston crossed wide out for the second. 17-10 to Hoppers looked good until more giveaways allowed Waterloo to score again making it scores level at half time. Hoppers pressed after the break but a wrong option saw Waterloo charge to the other end culminating in 17 points in a dreadfull 10 minutes for Hoppers.

Two converted tries and a penalty did the damage and when Oliver Viney crossed for his 10th try of the season it was again a question of too little too late and two league points going begging.

Hoppers' visit Liverpool St Helens on Saturday is a match which now assumes major proportions.

Grasshoppers 22 Waterloo 34