HOPPERS had a happy Christmas with two valuable wins that can only help their bid to climb the table.

In their first game of the festive season they came through a scrappy game 15-8 at home against lowly Hinckley.

Try scorers were Barry Greenwood and Rob Smith and although the victory was important it was easy to see why both sides are in the lower reaches of the league.

A week later they were unnerved by the long trip to Lichfield and produced a stunning first half display which demoralised their Staffordshire opponents.

Winger Iain Bruce and skipper Ian Ashton scored tries with the brilliant Rob Smith converting successfully each time.

Ashton and Bruce scored again in the second half to add to the tally. Hoppers finished the game 34-7 winners.

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