Pennine President's Cup: West Bowling 32 Boothtown Terriers 6

FULL back Max Trueman and centre Jack Milburn both bagged a brace of tries as West Bowling cruised into the second round of the Pennine President's Cup against a gutsy Boothtown Terriers at Emsley's Rec.

The visitors fell behind before they touched the ball when Trueman joined the line to make the extra man to cross out wide, and the home momentum continued when the classy full back repeated his attacking prowess to step clear and send the supporting Milburn en route to the uprights, leaving stand-off Liam Coe with a simple conversion.

The Terriers rallied their defence to hang on desperately before the hosts increased the tally at quarter time when second-row forward Gavin Wilkinson caught out the sliding cover by stepping inside and racing under the sticks, allowing Coe to add the extras.

Prop Chris Anderson shook the visitors with a 60-metre gallop downfield but they regrouped and produced a bright spell that tested the Wests rearguard to the full.

Bowling were reduced in numbers when prop Ash Hutchinson was sent to the bin for a raised arm in the tackle but they made light of the setback when loose forward Richard Lumb changed into overdrive to race clear and send the ever-eager Trueman sprinting in for his second try, which was converted by Coe for a 22-0 half-time lead.

The Division One leaders earned their moment of glory on the restart when centre Graham Rowlinson cantered over, stand-off Jordan O’Halloran making sure of the extras, but their hopes of a major revival disappeared when substitute packman Sha Basha collected a crossfield grubber to reach the chalk, and Coe obliged with his last extra of the match.

The wily Terriers pack, containing a collection of experienced if not very mobile veterans, then lured the younger Bowling six into an arm wrestle down the middle lane until the penny dropped and they returned to the expansive fast, open rugby that had previously paved the way.

Hooker Danny Halmshaw was recalled for a forward pass when he was clear after collecting a Milburn offload, and the burly centre showed his transformation from a hard-working second-row forward into a free-scoring three-quarter was a masterstroke when he held himself deep in the attacking line to charge through for the final try in the corner.

Bowling will now travel to old rivals Sharlston Rovers in the second round on Saturday, November 7.