WEST Bowling are hungry for a knockout victory when they travel to Thornhill Trojans in the second round of the BARLA National Cup tomorrow.

Bowling, whose first round opponents North Herts Crusaders failed to show up, have not enjoyed much success in the hunt for silverware this term.

They lost at home Queensbury in the Jack Senior Bradford Cup and went out of the Pennine President's Cup by a five-point margin at Sharlston Rovers.

Last week, Castleford Lock Lane won a close encounter in the Ladbrokes Challenge Cup first round at Emsley's Rec, leaving West’s out of three competitions and with only one chance left to make their mark.

The trip to Thornhill will be a huge test, but if they repeat anything like the form of last week against the National Conference Division Two hosts, a place in the third-round draw is the likely outcome.

The Pennine League Championship Division has taken over from the Premier Division as the most competitive section.

Queensbury, who have been otherwise engaged on the cup fronts, are now in a position to make a serious challenge in the title race.

Bury, who arguably have the best pack at the moment, travel to New Earswick All Blacks with the same squad that gave Premier leaders Fryston Warriors a fright in last week’s narrow President's Cup defeat.

Odsal Sedbergh, who are handily placed in fourth, welcome Stainland Stags.

Sedge have second-row forward Josh Tordoff in red-hot form, and their three-quarter line is also operating strongly, which may well mean the Stags will return home empty-handed.

Wyke are also on a mission to see off Eastmoor Dragons at Towngate in Division Two.

The black and whites, who are negotiating with their long-serving packman Simon Owen to delay his impending retirement to the end of the season, can now look forward to climbing the table, with all of their remaining games on home soil.

Clayton will keep their Division Three West title ambitions on course if they win, as anticipated, at Newsome Panthers.

West Bowling A are at home to Wyke A in the Hudson Foster Supplementary Bradford Cup at Emsley's Rec.

Bowling have been struggling to field a side of late due to injuries, while Wyke are chugging along one step below them at the wrong end of Division Four West.