Queensbury 6, Hunslet Old Boys 12

Queensbury produced their best Premier Division performance of the Pennine League campaign in their final home game of the season against second-placed Hunslet Old Boys at Hilltop.

Loose forward Joe Swain was in the thick of the action as the Queensbury pack took on their bigger opponents with glee in the lively opening exchanges.

They were desperately unlucky to fall behind with just seven minutes on the clock when referee Tony Martin missed a clear forward pass in a cross-field exchange that saw wingman Jerome Malcolm go over in the corner.

A clever flat pass from player-coach Andy Senior saw full back Ben Naylor denied by a desperate ankle tap as ’Bury made inroads.

Instead it was the Old Boys who went 8-0 in front through centre Ryan Campbell, who spun out of the tackle wide out.

The high-flying visitors must have thought that Queensbury would crumble under the pressure but they roared downfield to set up siege in their red zone.

Scrum half Gregg Marriott made 30 metres from a lay-off by impressive second-row forward Lewis Symonds to force a knock-on under the uprights with a clever grubber kick.

This set up the chance for Swain to cut back inside and skittle three defenders out of his path to plant the ball under the posts for the best try of the game.

Wingman Scott Swann added the conversion as ’Bury continued to camp out on the Hunslet line, only to be thwarted by the half-time whistle.

Hunslet started the second half with the slope and heavy driving rain in their favour but once again the hosts were in no mood to surrender any ground.

There was uproar when visiting second-row forward Carl Briggs took out substitute forward Bob Waby with a high shot that went unpunished. Queensbury kept their cool with admirable restraint but the weight and bulk of Old Boys prop forward Jamie Fields brought his side welcome reprieve when he staged a pick up and run from acting half for another unconverted touchdown.

The hosts were not discouraged by any means as replacement hooker Callum Murgatroyd made his presence felt with some huge hit-ups.

And they were within a whisker of claiming the points when prop Lee Kelly was just centimetres away from reaching a bobbling kick under the Hunslet posts.

’Bury finished as they started with a steely determination that sends a clear signal that they are back on track to challenge strongly for the title next term.