A POOR defensive performance brought defeat in Hoppers' final league match of the season to finish in ninth place in the table, just enough to avoid the relegation fall out which will be resolved on Saturday.

They scored five good tries including a hat trick for Oliver Viney who finished his first season in senior rugby with a tally of 19.

Hoppers' other scorers were Richard Morton and Sam Houston with Steve Gough and Sengili Tuihalamaka converting one each.

Halifax scored six tries, four of them gifted by a generous defence.

Hoppers only closed the gap to 12 points with three tries in the last five minutes. Hoppers now have two weeks to prepare for the Lancashire Cup final against West Park St Helens to be played at Sedgley Park on Monday May 5.

In the National Plate Competition semi- final Preston Grasshoppers Colts swept aside Otley Colts 37-3 after a suberb display of rugby.

Their seven try bonanza takes them to the final to be played at Northampton on Monday May 5 against Cambridge or Truro.

Final score: Halifax 41 Preston Grasshoppers 29