VICTORIA Rangers, Bradford's oldest amateur rugby league club, have folded due to a lack of players.

'The Vics' were formed in 1861 and became a force to be reckoned with, holding Widnes to a surprise 0-0 home draw in the 1905-06 Rugby League Challenge Cup before losing the replay four days later 8-3 away from home.

After the Second World War, Rangers moved grounds from Canal Road to Peel Park, with North Ward Working Men's Club as their headquarters, and were one of the most feared teams in Yorkshire.

Their halcyon period was the late 1950 and the 1960s. Great Britain amateur international, hooker Albert Mitchell, was the star of a pack that paved the way to Bradford ARL league and cup success.

The relocation to Eccleshill Sports Club in 1996 was seen as a further milestone in the Vics' progress but they failed to gain admission to the National Conference League, which was a great disappointment.

The recruitment of rugby fanatic John Hodgson as head coach and sponsor kept the flag flying but the writing was on the wall last season when they failed to field a full team on a number of occasions in Pennine League Division One and finished eighth out of ten.

Meanwhile, Bradford Dudley Hill can increase the gap between themselves and hosts Askam to five points tomorrow in their fourth versus fifth clash in National League Conference Division Two.

West Bowling were aiming to make it 13 straight wins in Division Three but the leaders' visit to Ryland Sharks has been scrapped after the hosts withdrew from the league.

All results against Sharks – whom Bowling drew with earlier in the season – have been expunged which has seen third-placed Stanningley drop to fifth.

Queensbury, who lost 44-12 at Bentley last week, have the chance to leapfrog hosts Beverley in Yorkshire Men's League Premier Division.

Odsal Sedbergh have a chance to move away from the danger area in Division One at home to fellow strugglers York Acorn.

In Division Two, Wibsey Warriors are looking to bounce back from a 40-12 loss at Hunslet Parkside but won't have it easy when second-placed Bramley visit.