Birkenshaw 34 Meltham All Blacks 16

BIRKENSHAW scrum half Gary Procter ran the show from start to finish with a virtuoso Pennine League performance in his side's convincing Division Three win over Meltham All Blacks at East Bierley.

Promotion-seeking Birky were quickly out of the blocks as loose forward Callum Wilkins collected a clever pass from prop forward Adam Lazenby to run at the angle to the uprights, leaving Procter to tag on the easy extras.

Second-row forward Ben Cousen then spotted a shortage of numbers on the blindside to cross in the corner before the Huddersfield visitors hit back.

A series of forward drives down the home cul-de-sac posed little danger until continued pressure opened up a gap for loose forward Nathan Robinson to reach the whitewash, with his fellow packman Steve Daniels adding the conversion.

Yet Birky were soon back in the groove and Cousen was held inches short after another telling run which allowed Procter the freedom he needed to send out a precision pass that put centre Chris Aked en route to the chalk.

Meltham were feeling the pace and tried to slow play down at the ruck – but the plan evaporated when a brilliant combined exchange of crisp offloads enabled hooker Matty Honysett to plant the ball under the posts, Procter making no mistake with the boot to give the hosts a well-deserved 20-6 half-time advantage.

Meltham started the second stanza with renewed vigour and clawed back the deficit when Robinson powered over for his brace.

Honysett had an effort ruled out for failing to touch down correctly before stand-off Jarrad Toulson squeezed in from close range – much to the irritation of visiting wingman Carlo Zaffino, who was sent off for his verbal protests to the referee.

Procter teased the All Blacks with two interceptions, leading to Toulson launching a high bomb that was dropped by the defence and allowing substitute Danny Graham to scoop up and cross for an easy touchdown. Procter finished off his afternoon's work with the conversion.

Graham then showed that he could also score a try the difficult way when he collected a clever lay-off from Toulson to sprint in for his brace.

Meltham, to their credit, restored a measure of pride when scrum half Aran Hood went over bang on the final whistle – but it was Birky who took all the plaudits as they climbed into third place.