Senior service earns upper hand as West Bowling slip into drop zone

A hat-trick of second-half tries from St Joseph’s hooker Jay Senior put paid to West Bowling’s chances of completing a vital Pennine League double in their Premier Division relegation dogfight at the Bankfoot Oval.

Bowling entered the contest knowing that a win would propel them four points clear of their opponents and up the table away from the drop zone.

But they suffered an early setback when they failed to deal with a high bomb near the line, allowing St Joe’s centre Mick Johnson to use his height to collect and cross for a simple score.

Full back Christian Burns slotted over the extras but the lead was shortlived as Bowling hit back straight from the kick-off.

Hooker Nathan Hadfield bounced off three defenders like a shuttlecock to plant the ball on the whitewash and full back Lee Innes added the conversion to tie the score at 6-6.

The hosts then hit the front for the only time in the match when wingman Kyle Moore went low and hard to dive in at the corner flag.

But St Joe’s then fired out a long pass to put centre Steve Mitchell galloping his way to the chalk to close the half at 10-10.

The defining moment of the game came shortly after the restart when Bowling substitute packman Aaron Chappell spotted a gap to sprint 40 metres down the middle with support on his outside, only to be flattened by a high tackle from Senior. The St Joe’s player was given a stern lecture but escaped any sanction – and was lucky to stay on the field when he was involved in a further fracas shortly afterwards.

Bowling loose forward Nigel Halmshaw was denied centimetres from the line and Senior added insult to injury when he picked up from the ruck to race under the posts unopposed.

Burns added the extra two points and then turned provider with a scything run to break the tiring home defence and put wingman Sam Cummings in at the corner.

Senior claimed his second try with a kick through that was knocked on, leaving him a simple collect and plant for another six-pointer.

Bowling responded when centre Jason Marshall took on the visitors single-handed to stretch out for a gallant effort.

But it was entirely appropriate that Senior, who had been outstanding throughout, should bring down the curtain with his hat-trick score.

Once again he exploited the flagging hosts’ resolve with a pick up and scoot under the posts, leaving Burns a simple conversion. So instead of climbing to fifth place with a victory, defeat leaves Bowling ninth in the second relegation position with St Joseph’s just above them on points difference.