Queensbury coach Senior out to put one over old pals (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Queensbury coach Senior out to put one over old West Bowling pals

10:34pm Thursday 12th January 2012 in Pennine League By Jack Strother

West Bowling welcome fellow Pennine League Premier Division rivals Queensbury in the opening round of the Ace Insurance BARLA National Cup on Saturday.

The local derby will be a welcome relief from the rigours of the relegation battle which sees both sides at the wrong end of the table.

Player-coach Andy Senior will be plotting to outsmart his former West Bowling team-mates following his return to Queensbury.

Senior, who was a prominent member of the Bowling Conference pack in the glory days, has a full squad available apart from long-term casualties Josh Naylor and Ben Marks. His opposite number Ricky Helliwell is in bullish mood, however.

He said: “We know it’s going to be tough because we are both desperate for a win. “We will be a great deal stronger this time out with Nigel Halmshaw, Connor Wood and Gavin Buckley available after injury.”

Former Clayton full back Danny Belcher makes his Wibsey Warriors first-team debut at home to Slaith-waite Saracens in the Pennine League Premier Division.

The Warriors lost the away clash by six points and will be confident of gaining revenge on home soil.

Division One table toppers Bank Top Harriers are also on a mission at Newsome Panthers, who inflicted their only defeat of the season earlier in the campaign.

Harriers will be in jubilant mood after reaching the Jack Senior Bradford Cup final last week. Wingman Mike Hustler is fully fit after playing with an illness in the 14-4 semi-final win over Wyke.

Birkenshaw have suffered a blow to their promotion challenge with stand-off Steve Wroe breaking his ankle during training last Thursday. Prop Craig Jesse has recovered from a broken hand and will make the journey to Morley Borough but Mark Nicholls faces a fitness test before kick-off.

Division Two sees all our local sides on their travels. Wyke meet Boothtown Terriers for the first time this term whilst Odsal Sedbergh seek the double at Illingworth having seen off the Halifax side easily on home ground. West Bowling A welcome back pack enforcer Lee Hutchinson for the short trip to leaders Brighouse Rangers.

Undercliffe Wildboars journey to Sherburn Bears. A Wildboars win will see them leap frog their hosts into second spot in Division Six with games in hand. Props Josh Page and Mat Garbutt are likely to miss out due to illness. Isaac Brown, Danny Brown, Steve Ingleson and Dave Newell are available for selection.