RECS' automatic promotion hopes were dealt a huge blow on Saturday, as they managed to throw away a commanding lead for the second time this season to their Yorkshire opponents.

Dudley Hill started off the afternoon's scoring when a well worked play on 4 minutes, split Recs defence on the right flank, to see the second row plough over untouched for a converted try.

Recs responded when Richard Rafferty powered over for a try beneath the posts ten minutes later, Danny Lynch slotting the conversion.

Kyran Knapper scored next for the home side after chasing down a Greg Smith kick, diving in the corner to reach the ball before it ran out of play.

Lynch converted and then followed up with a Penalty goal on the half-hour. Knapper was then adjudged to have dropped the ball in the process of scoring what would have been an almost identical try five minutes later.

Mark Briody then scored a rare try after neat blind-side play between Mark Ashton, Knapper and then Briody, saw him race to the try line for an unconverted try. Lynch rounded of the first-half scoring with a second penalty goal.

Recs started the second half strongly, and after a period of sustained pressure extended their lead when Lynch converted a second penalty goal to open up a 16 point lead.

Bradford immediately, and some lacklustre defence down Recs middle saw the visitors score three converted tries in a ten minute period that gave them a 2 point lead.

A shell-shocked Recs did rally once more, and looked to have reclaimed the lead when Mark Ashton dived over in the corner, only to see the score not given after he was deemed to step onto the touchline before grounding the ball.

The defeat now leaves Recs in fourth position and realisticly facing the playoffs for the third promotion space.

Recs face Askam at Ruskin Drive on Saturday as the pressure now builds towards the end of the season.