Rugby League: Bird flies to hat-trick

DEON BIRD achieved a hat-trick of tries as Gateshead outplayed Huddersfield at the McAlpine Stadium yesterday. The 40-16 win keeps them on course for a top-five finish and was the most points scored in their short history. The loose forward grabbed his treble in 21 minutes either side of half-time to became the first Thunder player to score a hat-trick.

Hull Sharks, bottom of the table, emerged hard-fought victors, 23-18, over the Wakefield Trinity Wildcats, an eighth consecutive loss for the visitors.

Hull, with just two wins all season, completed their only Super League double to put the pressure on the team immediately above them in the table, Huddersfield.

Results, page 9