Wyke 36, Cutsyke Raiders 42

WYKE were involved in a top-of-the-table Division One thriller at Towngate but lost to a late try in a Pennine League game that had everything.

Despite missing Ben Kelly, Gary Worley, Shaun Godfrey, Ryan Exley and Calvin Barker from the previous week's team, Wyke were unlucky not to take the spoils.

The game was interrupted in only the second set when Wyke prop Andy Lloyd sustaining a dislocated knee, requiring an ambulance, and he had to be carried from the field.

A nice passing movement gave Cutsyke an early 6-0 lead but Wyke skipper Ian Wormald hit back almost instantly to level the scores at 6-6, Ben Proctor adding the extra two points.

Both teams then had periods of good attacking possession, Ryan Kershaw leading the way with two line-breaks for the home side but he was held short of the line.

Cutsyke raced ahead with two unanswered tries and were winning the battle up front, making break after break that Wyke struggled to contain.

The home side also had lots of possession and created plenty of chances but could not seem to get over the line.

Kershaw, Wormald and the returning Dean Smith caused all kinds of problems on the edges with only the final pass missing.

However, veteran stand-off Ian Watkinson popped up in timely fashion when he crossed for his first try in five seasons, Proctor being on target to reduce the arrears to 18-12.

But more pressure on the Cutsyke line led to a loose ball and the visitors intercepted, running 80 metres to give the Raiders a 24-12 interval lead.

Wyke started the second half with intent and it was clear Cutsyke's early physicality was not sustainable as tries from Scott Watson and Sam Kitson demonstrated.

It was Wyke's indiscipline, however, which was to cost them the game, with a big Cutsyke side being helped up the field by consecutive penalties that ultimately led to tries.

It was down to Cutsyke forward Chris Pye to seal Wyke's fate when he went under the sticks to edge the visitors in front late on.

Yet Wyke coach Warren Pitman said: "I'm really proud of the players. They (Cutsyke) were big blokes who could play rugby and, despite missing some real big-game players such as Ben Kelly and Ryan Exley, we stood up and really should have taken that.

"Our discipline was very disappointing. You can't give big guys that much help up the pitch without leaking points, which we did."