SCRUM half Josh Hattie took the game by the scruff of the neck to inspire Bradford Victoria Rangers to a 28-18 victory in their Pennine League clash at Dalton.

The long trip to Cumbria usually sees the hosts enjoying an easy ride early doors – but this time the Vics dominated the Division One contest from the off and it was only a series of last-ditch Dalton tackles that prevented them taking the lead.

The introduction of former professional Barrow prop Adam Nicholson turned the game dramatically when he bumped off several Vics defenders on a 40-metre trundle to the whitewash and then repeated the feat to go over for his brace shortly afterwards for a 12-0 cushion.

Coach John Hodgson decided to fight fire with fire and brought on substitute forwards Ash Yarrow and Jake Bloodworth to nullify the threat.

The ploy brought instant results when the two combined to see Bloodworth touch down, leaving Hattie to add the extras – and further pressure enabled wingman Ben Quirke to cross out wide to see the Vics into the interval two points in arrears at 12-10.

Dalton regained the initiative when their full back raced the length of the field on the restart, before Hattie decided his time had come as he sprinted clear and offloaded to second-row forward Joe Bell for a try straight out of the top drawer.

Hattie then played a major role in sending stand-off partner Sam Thornton under the uprights, making sure of both conversions to ensure a 22-18 winning position.

The Bradford outfit put the icing on the cake when prop Luke Harps showed his skill with a clever side-step to cross out wide and Hattie was again on target to cement a great win on the road.

Birkenshaw came a cropper 16-4 at Division Three basement dwellers Greetland All Rounders.

The Halifax hosts, who have been struggling for numbers all season, gave Birky a monumental shock and their expected points bonanza was reduced to a trickle, with only wingman Robbie Cass reaching the whitewash.

* WYKE were awarded the Community Club of the Year honour at the Bradford Bulls Foundation awards night.

The club, who were formed in 1890, have two open age teams operating in the Pennine League and will be entering a team in a 2017 summer competition.

Wyke have six junior teams operating in the Yorkshire League. The well-established village stalwarts have also formed a tiny tots section named the Zigga-Ziggas, aimed at delivering fun-orientated training sessions for children aged between three and five.