Gateshead Storm 8 Crosfields 46.

CROSFIELDS are just one win away from the National Conference League Division Three title after a resounding win on Tyneside on Saturday.

Nathan Taylor crossed for a hat-trick, while Ian Boden bagged a brace and there was a try each for Billy Sheen, Chris Burgess and Jack Reid, who also added seven goals to put Soap on the edge of glory.

Tony Benson’s men will seal the title with a win over local rivals and nearest challengers Woolston Rovers this Saturday at Hood Lane, kick off 2.30pm.

They made the ideal start in the North East by taking the lead inside two minutes after good handed from Burgess and Joe Clarke sent Sheen in between the posts.

The hosts responded well as Soap’s adventurous rugby proved to be their downfall as two interception tries from Andrew Morris and David Rhodes gave them the lead.

However, that was as good as it got for Gateshead as Crosfields dominated from then on, with Burgess crashing onto a short-ball from Reid to give them a lead they would not relinquish.

Full-back Taylor grabbed his first try when a flowing move saw him chime into the line and step inside his opposite number to cross.

Gateshead were pinned inside their own half and Boden latched onto a Burgess pass to touch down for his first of the afternoon.

His second wasn’t long in coming after another flowing Soap move saw the ball go through seven pairs of hands before eventually reaching Boden to cross unopposed and give his side a 28-8 half-time advantage.

Sadly for the hosts, there was to be no let-up from the visitors after the interval as they set about pressing home their advantage.

To their credit, the home side did manage to hold off further damage until 22 minutes into the half when Reid sold the defence a dummy to allow him to cross between the sticks.

The skipper’s try seemed to knock the stuffing out of the hosts and Taylor took full advantage with two quick-fire tries to secure a crushing win.

With two games of the season to go, Soap have a three-point lead over Rovers at the top of the table.

Crosfields: Nathan Taylor; Ian Boden, Chris Burgess, Chris Hull, Keiron Thomas; Jack Reid, Billy Sheen; Steve Pickersgill, Hayden James, John Pickersgill, Joe Moore, Jordan Chilton, Joe Clarke. Subs: Jimmy Rookes, Matt Barber, Matt Thomason, Terry Reid.