Odsal Sedbergh A 12, Wyke A 10

ODSAL Sedbergh A secured the bragging rights as they edged out Wyke A in a Pennine League derby thriller at Odsal Recreation Ground.

Yet Wyke will rue not taking a number of kicking opportunities in a Division Six West game that was tight throughout.

As was to be expected in a derby, the opening exchanges were fierce and several high shots were penalised by the referee in an attempt to maintain order.

The pitch was heavy after recent rain but Wyke duo Ryan Exley and Dean Smith led from the front with some superb runs.

The game continued to be an ill-tempered affair though, with both sides trying to win the physical battle.

Promotion-chasing Sedge opened the scoring when a nice handling move ended with John Adams crashing over the whitewash for a converted try to give them a 6-0 lead which they held at the break.

The second half began as the first had, with high shots the order of the day.

Wyke then got on the scoreboard when forward Phil Oliver managed to barge his way over from close range, although Shaun Godfrey was unable to make the conversion.

The visitors were then presented with the chance to level through yet another penalty but took the option to run it, which was to prove costly when they quickly lost possession.

Sedge seized the initiative and, aided by some weak tackling from the visitors, Godfrey burrowed over from acting half to extend their lead.

Emotions continued to run high and it was no surprise when a fight broke out and a number of players were dispatched to the sin-bin to cool off.

The game remained in the balance though and Wyke set up a grandstand finish when good hands from Smith put Sam Redmond clear and he found Sam Kitson in support to touch down.

At 12-10, the game was poised to go either way and it looked like Wyke had won it in the dying seconds when Brett Grey dived over in the corner, only for the referee to rule Redmond's pass forward.

The defeat leaves next-to-bottom Wyke still a victory away from their nearest rivals at the wrong end of the table.

But fourth-placed Sedge are four points behind leaders Worth Village and two adrift of fellow promotion hopefuls Victoria Rangers A and Meltham All Blacks with a game in hand.