WITH scheduled opponents Scarborough Pirates being unable to field a team the previous week, Wyke under-17 coaches Dean Smith and Andy Fox used their spare time to look at next opponents Dearne Valley Bulldogs, and their scouting mission paid dividends a week later as Wyke won their clash 34-14.

Wyke scored after only four minutes, Coby Kittsen going over in the corner, and tries followed for Tevin Campbell and James McKibben as the hosts, prompted by Jordan Payton and Gary Worley, unleashed centres Josh Swailes and Aiden Sheard, wingers Arafat Osman and Flynn Woodhead and full back Calvin Barker.

Alec Williams converted McKibben's score but defence also played its part in the win with some big hits coming in from Aiden Holmes and, particularly, Campbell.

Silly mistakes let in Bulldogs for two tries before half-time but some stern interval words from Smith did the trick, and early second-half tries for Owen Fox and Kittsen were the result.

As the visitors tired, further scores came from Campbell, Kaelin Rice and McKibben, Williams and McKibben adding a conversion each.

Man of the match for Wyke was prop Adam Smith, who backed up his open-age match from the day before by playing for almost 60 minutes, putting in some big runs and a sound defensive effort.