Harriers spring another surprise (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Harriers spring another surprise

1:04pm Tuesday 3rd February 2009 in

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Giant-killers Bank Top Harriers struck again to take pride of place in the semi-finals of the Jack Senior Bradford Cup with a 30-24 extra-time home win against Birkenshaw.

The Division Two outfit started as clear underdogs against Division One pacesetters Birky and it looked like an uphill struggle when the visitors raced into a six-point lead.

But centre Simon Giles got the Harriers underway and, together with another effort from loose forward Paul Priestley, that saw them into the sheds 8-6 up.

A touchdown from wingman Michael Hustler and two goals from Cam Nelson brought the scores level 16-16 after normal time.

It was the Harriers who took the plaudits when Giles and Hustler each crossed for their brace with further goals from Nelson.

Birky’s Tom Clough (2), Paul Bancroft, Mark Horne and Andy Hirst all made the chalk and Gary Procter added two kicks. West Bowling A had a surprisingly comfortable passage beating Wyke 36-8 at Emsleys Rec. The black and whites could not cope with former BARLA international forward Nigel Halmshaw.

Warrington Wolves’ head conditioner looked in great nick himself as he posted a hat-trick that ripped Wyke apart.

Wingman Ben Creswell, centre Martin Tordoff and full back Danny Loxam also crossed with centre Ash Wood kicking the conversions. Odsal Sedbergh earned their semi spot with a tight 20-16 win at Undercliffe Wildboars. Sedge recovered from a narrow 10-8 deficit to seal the game with two rapid tries early in the second stanza.

Duane Platt (2), Tom Middleton, Bob Priestley and Chris Walsh all reached the whitewash but a lack of goal kicking success led to a nerve-jangling finish.

In the Hudson Foster Supplementary Bradford Cup, Queensbury A’s 16-year-old scrum half Rory Brooke was the star of the show.

He claimed four tries and four goals in the 46-6 win at South Bradford while Matt Lee-Haigh posted the best touchdown of the game for Wibsey Warriors in a 48-10 home win against Wyke A.

Queensbury produced a magnificent second-half rearguard action to pull off their first Premier Division win of the season – against current champions Halifax Irish. They edged their home contest 18-16 with Gareth Crowther, Sam Poole and Darren Wilkinson each getting over.

Brett Marriott improved all those efforts for ’Bury to lead 18-10 at the break.

They never troubled the scorecard again but thwarted Irish with a tremendous tackling stint in the second period to finally end their duck at the ninth attempt.