ST JOSEPH’S secured a vital 30-16 Premier Division triumph over Elland to ease their relegation worries.

In front of a big Fartown crowd because so many other Huddersfield games were postponed due to the wintry weather, the home side were always in front against their gallant neighbours.

In a tight opening quarter where the Joes’ pack was dominant, the hosts scored three tries.

They came from Richard Aka and Ben Lewis and a excellent team try through Neil Barrett following good work from Lewis and Joe Flaherty.

But a very resilient Elland hit back with a converted try to make it 18-6 at the interval.

The second half was a more scrappy affair as the conditions deteriorated.

But solid defence from Joes, led by Phil Simpson, Simon Lyles and Danny Aspinall, kept Elland at bay.

And further tries came from Richard Brooke, Lee St Hilaire and Aka to settle the outcome.

Elland rallied with two late tries, but the three conversions in total from Barrett completed the scoring.

In a very physical game the Joes’ man-of-the-match was full-back Danny Aspinall, followed closely by prop Phil Simpson and scrum half Phil Drain

Coach Keith Senior was happy with this vital win and glad to see the hard work on the training ground was now being replicated in games.