Odsal Sedbergh 22-8 Kings Cross Park

AN opportunist try from second row forward Josh Tordoff paved the way for a Odsal Sedbergh Championship Division victory against second placed Kings Cross Park at the Odsal Rec.

Sedge put the first use of the slope to good effect with a blistering start that saw hooker Shaquille Jones halted a yard short.

When the visitors failed to control the ball at the ruck Sedge hacked the ball on, causing the Kings full back Jonathon Binns to fumble under the posts and the lurking Tordoff was perfectly positioned to pick up and score.

Scrum half Steve Suddards slotted over the easy extras before the hosts had a narrow escape when the Kings centre Lewis Tidswell broke clear but his lack of pace, and some splendid cover defence saw him bundled into touch at the corner flag.

Sedge superiority was again to the fore when fast hands prised open the chance for wingman Jonny Ward to power over in the corner unopposed and the Halifax outfit breathed a sigh of relief shortly afterwards when stand-off Paul Bottomley had a try disallowed for a forward pass.

However, they enjoyed a lucky break bang on the hooter when a catalogue of errors in the home defence presented stand-off Jordan Syme a simple touchdown on a plate to turn around just 10-4 down with all to play for.

Sedge, now facing the slope, came out of the traps with added momentum and following a series of lightning fast plays established a foothold in the visiting red zone to force a scrum.

A pre-planned move saw substitute Luke Dawson collect a short pass at the base and he side-stepped two defenders to race under the posts leaving Bottomley to make sure of a full reward at 16-4.

Kings Cross hit back to set up camp in the home half, only to be thwarted by a Sedge defence at the top of their game in the tackling department but the pressure finally told when a combination effort saw wingman Liam Calvert reach the chalk out wide.

The next score was understandably vital, and it was the mighty Tordoff who came up trumps once more when he sprinted across the visitor’s rearguard to change direction suddenly to send the supporting Bottomley on route to the whitewash.

Dawson added the conversion leaving the final five minutes of the game a formality.

l FORMER Bradford rugby league Referee Walter May has died at 90 years of age.

‘Walt’ was an apprentice trained Pattern Maker at Crofts Engineers at Thornbury before branching out as a publican at the Royal Standard, which was opposite Busby’s, on Manningham Lane in the early 1960s. Subsequently he was also mine host at the Carlisle Hotel, Carlisle Road.

Bradford ARL chairman Jack Strother paid tribute, saying: “Walt was an exceptionally talented official in an era when referees were respected and stood no-nonsense.

"He was very fair and had a wicked sense of humour that soon deflated a few egos.

"He went on to serve on our committee and was made a life member in recognition of his tremendous contribution to the amateur game in Bradford.”

The funeral will be held on Thursday at 12:30pm at Nab Wood Crematorium. Attendees are requested not to wear black.