West Bowling 20 East Hull 14

Young guns Nick Fontaine and Michael Derrick scored vital tries in each half to steer West Bowling to a hard-fought National Conference League victory at a storm-lashed Bankfoot Oval.

It was the visitors who opened up strongly, clearly inspired by Hull and former Bradford Bull Lee Radford's presence on the coaching bench.

But when they forced one pass too many out wide, teenage wingman Fontaine snapped up the loose ball to sprint 80 metres to the whitewash, leaving all-comers in his wake.

The lead was short-lived, however, when straight from the restart centre Martin Tordoff knocked on and opposite number Martin Johnson took full advantage from the resulting scrum to cross.

Stand-off Gary Blanchard slotted over the extras to put East Hull in front 6-4.

His opposite number Peter Simpson used the swirling wind to good effect with a series of high bombs but it was a classic short kick from scrum half Danny Ramsden that paid dividends.

He collected himself to power over between two stranded defenders and put Bowling back in front.

Simpson was unlucky to hit the post with the conversion attempt on a day not fit for goal kickers.

Once again Bowling shot themselves in the foot when Hull wingman Mick McGowan found himself unmarked in acres of space on the flanks to stroll over in the corner.

Second row forward Mike Kite knocked on when he was lurking in the three-quarters with the line at his mercy and full back Gareth Cullington was held inches short as Bowling headed for the interval 10-8 in arrears.

The hosts looked to be in trouble shortly after the restart when East's centre Paul Fairfield sold a dummy for an unconverted try.

But Simpson once again peppered their defence with the high ball, forcing full back Phil Batty to knock on in heavy traffic. Youngster Fontaine gleefully scooped up the half-chance and found pack man John Metcalfe on his inside who raced behind the posts in fine style. Simpson slotted over the simple conversion to tie the scores at 14-14.

It needed something special to break the deadlock and it came when Derrick steamed onto an offload to dance past two defenders and dive over. Simpson added the extras and Bowling breathed a sigh of relief with another vital two points towards Premier Division survival.