Bradford ARL Jack Senior Memorial Cup final: Clayton 18 Victoria Rangers 16

A LONG-range, injury-time penalty from centre Ryan Wilkinson gave Clayton a last-gasp 18-16 victory in an exhilarating encounter against Victoria Rangers at the Provident Odsal Stadium.

The Vics started in style but wingman Rob Stones failed to hold on to a difficult pass when he was clear out wide, and he was further frustrated when he galloped clear only to be recalled for a forward pass with the line wide open.

However, Rangers' bright opening was rewarded when centre Jordan Walker raced onto a pass from stand-off Elliot Hodgson to side-step full back Elliot McElroy and sprint 30 metres to the posts, leaving scrum half Hayden Sugden to add the extras.

Clayton looked to be wobbling but the introduction of substitute hooker Phil Redgrave steadied the ship, and he was instrumental in levelling the score when he burrowed over from acting half for his customary trademark touchdown, which was converted by Wilkinson.

The lively Vics fast attack paved the way for Hodgson to spin out of three tackles to reach the chalk, and he then cleverly cut inside to the posts to ensure Sugden had the easy task of guaranteeing full return with the boot, and they were excellent value for their 12-6 advantage at the break.

Rangers looked to have bombed a huge chance on the restart when Hayden held on with hooker Kyle Hunt on his shoulder in space but his quick play-the-ball was shipped wide to send Walker over the whitewash for his brace. Clayton scrum half Devon Gurney then came to the fore, marshalling his forwards with a variety of offloads, and the resulting onslaught led to prop John Parkinson taking four defenders with him at the side of the uprights.

Wilkinson was distraught when his conversion attempt was pulled wide but he made no mistake shortly afterwards when Parkinson raced onto a short pass to cross for his second try to restore parity at 16-16.

Sugden pulled a penalty attempt wide as both sides strived for the winning score, and Gurney looked to have achieved the task when he raced through, only to have his effort ruled out for a double movement.

The decider came when the Jack Turner Memorial man-of-the-match award-winner Gurney suffered a punch in the tackle, and Wilkinson, cool as a cucumber, stepped up to slot over the resulting penalty.