Bank Top Harriers 20, Wyke 24

A late try from prop forward Warren Pitman saw Pen-nine League Division Two strugglers Wyke turn the tables on leaders Bank Top Harriers in an exhilarating encounter at Asa Briggs.

The Harriers ensured the game went ahead after their Deanstones Lane pitch was declared unfit and the fixture was switched to Queensbury seconds’ ground at Clayton Heights.

The hosts were duly rewarded when centre Jason Gelder crossed after collecting an inside pass from full back Luke Harps.

Stand-off Adam Mitchell added the extras but it was the visitors who then sprung into action.

After softening the home defence with two sets of six, second-row forward Phil O’Grady managed to plant the ball on the whitewash for Wyke.

Bank Top withstood the intense pressure with some stout defence and then raced up field to send wingman Mark Bailey crashing over in the corner.

Wyke, with first use of the slope, were soon back in the home red zone and another concentrated attack gave scrum half Sam Kittsen the chance to spot a gap at the side of the posts.

Second-row forward Mick Wormald converted and also made no mistake when stand-off James Dewhirst scored a classy effort by placing a short kick into space.

He collected himself and outpaced allcomers in a high-speed dash to the chalk.

The cracking half ended all square at 16-16 when Mitchell lobed an inch-perfect pass to Bailey, who repeated his previous exploits to register his brace.

The stand off also added the touchline conversion for good measure.

The Harriers looked totally focused on the restart and some smart approach play saw Bailey collect a classic wingman’s hat-trick with another power show out wide.

The dual threat from home props James Wild and Danny Murgatroyd was blunted by some terrific scrambling Wyke defence but they were fortunate not to go further behind when a Gelder kick-and-chase narrowly failed.

With ten minutes left of this exciting contest, a moment of madness changed the game completely.

A series of close calls had infuriated Mitchell, who showed his displeasure in no uncertain terms to the referee and was promptly sent to the sin bin.

Wyke used the extra man to gain field position in the home red zone and, when a window of opportunity presented itself, Pitman made no mistake from ten metres out.

Wormald kicked the extra points and the score was soon added to by a further penalty from Dewhirst when Bank Top failed to execute a drop-out bang in front of the posts.

Harriers remain top despite slipping to only their second defeat of the season.