CLAYTON had to pull out all the stops to secure a 24-20 win at neighbours Queensbury A in a Pennine League Division Three West derby.

Bury struck the first blow with a converted try to go 6-0 ahead, and looked to be in command until Villagers' prop forward John Parkinson slipped a smart pass to supporting hooker Phil Redgrave, who dived over to leave centre Ryan Wilkinson to add the extras and level the scores.

Redgrave was once again the hero when he spotted the chance to scoot over from acting half, soon followed by a stunning effort from full back Elliot McElroy, who collected in his own 20-metre zone to race downfield, dodging all-comers en route to the chalk.

Clayton stand-off Scott Pendlebury then produced a pin-point grubber kick through the defence to collect and pounce, and Wilkinson slotted over his fourth conversion but the hosts were still well in the hunt when they crossed for another converted touchdown to close the half at 24-12 down.

Queensbury rallied strongly in the second stanza, posting two tries too wide to convert to narrow the gap to 24-20, and Pendlebury looked to have settled the outcome when he stretched out to plant the ball, only to have his effort disallowed for a knock on.

However, they managed to hang on to their slender lead as Bury hurled the kitchen sink into the fray in the closing exchanges.

The game was marred at the close when Queensbury’s young wingman Stuart Rubery suffered a suspected broken leg.

West Bowling A put Worth Village to the sword in a 54-6 away win.

Packman Nigel Halmshaw posted a brace, outdoing his son Danny, who could only manage a solo as West’s swamped the hosts.

Danny Strawbridge, Jake Green, Ellis Bantley, Harry Williams, Chris Anderson, Chris Watson and Karl Spring also made the whitewash, and Ethan Egerton-Sharp landed seven conversions.

In Division Four West, Wyke head coach Warren Pitman was disappointed with Mirfield Stags A's sportsmanship in their 56-12 win at Towngate. The Stags second string were all set to go when their first-team game was called off so they decamped at the Wyke Rec and promptly drafted seven senior players into the squad 30 minutes before the off.

The black and whites, with only one first-teamer, Scott Watson, in their ranks, dominated the opening quarter and hit the front through Kieron Helliwell.

The heavy conditions took their toll on the home youngsters, however, leaving Mirfield, whose first team are five divisions up the pecking order, a hollow victory.

Wyke's last try deservedly went to Aaron Priestley, who was celebrating his 30th birthday.