Kingstone Press National Conference League Division Three: West Bowling 34 Rylands Sharks 34

WEST Bowling salvaged a 34-34 draw after pacesetters Rylands Sharks' self-discipline collapsed in the closing minutes at Emsley's Rec.

The hosts hit the front when full back Max Trueman saw a window of opportunity at the corner flag but the Warrington-based visitors hit back when bulky prop Craig Millington barged over, leaving scrum half Declan Leonard to add the extras.

After the ball was shipped across the line, there was a smart touchdown from centre Dan Gregory, stand-off Harry Williams converting to put Bowling 10-6 up but the scoring tit for tat continued when Sharks full back Luke Walker latched onto an inside pass.

They made further inroads on the scoresheet when prop Sam Roberts found a lack of numbers guarding the uprights, but substitute hooker Danny Halmshaw made an immediate impact from the bench for Bowling when he threaded a six-foot grubber behind the defence to allow loose forward Richard Lumb to pounce, and Williams’s trusty boot, together with a penalty, closed the half with both sides locked at 18-18.

West’s packman Chris Watson roared up the middle on the restart to send Halmshaw scurrying under the posts, leaving Williams with a formality for the extras, but the Sharks restored parity when wingman Mike Harrison sprinted down the flanks to cut inside at speed.

The momentum was further in their favour when Walker beat the defence on a one-on-one for his brace before Halmshaw, who had only landed back from Australia less than 24 hours before, split Rylands wide open with a 40- metre burst to hand on to supporting second row forward Olly Bartle, who then covered the same amount of distance to the sticks.

Williams' kick put West’s just four points in arrears, which led to blind panic in the Sharks ranks.

Substitute Sean Doyle was sent to the sin bin when he disputed an offside ruling, quickly followed by loose forward Craig Harris, who added a verbal contribution which was changed from yellow to red by the referee when he persisted in his protests.

Second-row forward Nick Braide's unwelcome facial massage on West’s prop Nat Light then earned him a ten- minute trip to the touchline side, and Bowling were suddenly left to face ten very weary Sharks deep into injury time.

West's kept their cool and made sure of a point when wingman Kyle Moore scooted in at the flag but it was too far out for Williams to claim the victory.