WEST Bowling have failed to retain their Pennine League Premier Division championship, falling to a glorious 35-22 defeat at the hands of new title-holders Fryston Warriors in their final-game decider.

Bowling, who entered the fray having a four-point scoring difference advantage over the Castleford hosts, were first on the scoreboard when hooker Danny Halmshaw sent fellow packman Dan Gregory over the chalk, leaving Harry Williams to tag on the extras.

However, a wicked rebound from a speculative kick put the Warriors level, and they kept their momentum going with further bursts of quality rugby to go into the break 26-6 up.

Bowling hit their straps early on the restart when Chris Watson picked a hole to cross, soon followed by a further effort from Gregory, one of which was converted by Williams to narrow the gap to 26-16.

It was definitely game on at this juncture, and West’s were unlucky to have a Robert Young effort ruled out following a cheeky kick through.

The hosts made the task even harder with a further try but Glenn Barraclough’s boys refused to bow down, and once more hot back when full back Max Trueman skipped his way to the whitewash.

At 30-22, a Bowling score would do the trick on aggregate, and they looked to have succeeded when Trueman sailed into a massive gap, only to be recalled for a forward pass.

Fryston then crossed for a touchdown and added a drop goal to claim the silverware in what had been a classic encounter to fend the campaign.

Clayton are now in a two-horse race with Brighouse Rangers for the Division Three title chase, following their comprehensive 44-4 home win over Newsome Panthers.

The crucial game will be at Brighouse later in the campaign, and on this form the Villagers will prove formidable.

The right-wing partnership of Oliver McElroy and David Harrison collected two tries apiece, and there was another brace from substitute Josh Lanfear.

Hooker Phil Redgrave and second-row forward Craig Hodgson also crossed, with centre Ryan Wilkinson kicking six conversions.

* Bradford Dudley Hill cruised to a 38-10 win against Stanley Rangers in their opening game of the Kingstone Press National Conference League Division Two summer season at Parry Lane.

The Hill wingmen were in great form, with Neil Wall posting a hat-trick, aided and abetted by colleague Damian Smith, who crossed for a brace.

Loose forward Danny Samuels also made the chalk twice to register the forwards' contribution, and scrum half Simon Sewell added a solo effort to go alongside his three conversions.