WEST Bowling lost ground on National Conference League Division Two leaders Ince Rose Bridge following their narrow 34-32 defeat to Hull Dockers in a pulsating affair at Emsley's Rec.

In a fine advert for the NCL both sides played some excellent, free flowing rugby as they took turns to dominate.

Hull took the lead after just five minutes when prop Dave Bade barged his way over after Bowling had needlessly been penalised in possession. Ben Rowan added the extras.

Five minutes later Hull were in again thanks to a planned move which saw full back Dan Suddaby scoot over. Rowan was successful once more with the boot to make it 12-0.

Things seemed to have got worse for Bowling when, following a lovely passage of play, winger Dylan Rawlings dived over, only for the effort to be ruled out for a forward pass.

It was short respite however when, with a Bowling man down in back play, Hull half back George Russell found centre Calum Daniels who touched down. Despite the missed conversion, the visitors were in complete control at 16-0.

Bowling were handed a lifeline when Hull coughed up possession with a knock-on and they duly punished the visitors. The ball travelled through several pairs of hands before finding its way to winger Joe Hammond, who crashed in at the corner.

A superb kick from Harry Williams cut the deficit to 12 points but more importantly fired Bowling up.

They were soon on the scoreboard again, this time full back Ben Heald doing the damage as he rounded off a superb run around move to cross.

Williams slotted over the conversion and Bowling were right back in it at 16-12. It was no surprise when they levelled thanks to Hammond, who took a pass from Heald to crash over out wide.

Williams was wide with the kick but Bowling took the lead for the first time minutes later after an attempted grubber from Liam Coe fortunately found its way into the hands of Hammond, who gladly accepted the good fortune to grab his hat-trick.

With Bowling leading 20-16 at the break the game was set for them to finish off the job in the second half but Hull had other ideas.

Just five minutes after the restart Rowan fired a ball out of the back door which fell to Rose, allowing him to level at 20-20. Rowan made the subsequent conversion and Hull were once again in front.

Disaster struck for Bowling on 50 minutes when an attempted run around move went wrong and Dockers' Craig Cook gathered the loose ball, broke up field and found sub Kyle Larvin, who scored a converted try.

The game looked all but over for the hosts when Cook's neat slip pass allowed Jon McLoud to dive over under the sticks. Rowan made easy work of the kick to give Hull a comfortable 34-20 lead.

Bowling dug deep and set about getting themselves back in the game for a second time. Heald picked up another try following a run around move involving Richard Lumb and, with another Williams conversion, a comeback looked on the cards.

They were in again when Lumb touched down after a fine move but the effort was ruled out for crossing. The afternoon was set for a grandstand finish when hooker Danny Halmshaw crashed over and Williams goaled but Bowling had left themselves too much to do this time.