Kingstone Press National Conference League Division Three: West Bowling 42 Gateshead Storm 28

A HAT-TRICK of tries from hooker Danny Halmshaw rescued West Bowling from the jaws of defeat against title-chasing rivals Gateshead Storm in a high-scoring encounter at Emsley's Rec.

Table toppers Bowling made a dreadful start against the beefy visitors when a lack of cover on the flank allowed full back James Pocklington race in, leaving stand-off Dan Barron to add the extras.  

More grief followed for the hosts when second-row forward Luke Banham spotted a gap at the side of the sticks, and a bout of quick passing put wingman Martin Scott in for another touchdown for a 18-0 lead.

West’s clicked into gear, however, when centre Sam Dunn hit the line at speed and drew the Storm full back perfectly to allow the supporting Halmshaw to touch down under the uprights, and the gap narrowed with another six-pointer when loose forward Richard Lumb passed around a defender to send the eager Halmshaw en route for his brace bang on the interval.

Bowling wasted no time in restoring parity at 18-18 on the restart when two huge drives from props Ryan Patchett and Chris Anderson paved the way for Lumb to power his way to the whitewash, leaving stand-off Harry Williams to claim full reward with the boot.

But Gateshead gave notice of their resilience when hooker Jack Adamson finished off a quick sprint to the corner before West’s packman Nat Light roared over the chalk to regain home advantage at 24-22.

Then a silky move from a set scrum allowed centre Cain Timmins to cut inside for another touchdown as the hosts' superior fitness took hold but the visitors rallied for a last effort when Adamson claimed his brace.

West's second-row forward Elliott Cousin caught the defence napping for another effort that was converted by marksman Williams, who never missed a kick at goal, and excellent backing up from Halmshaw once again earned him the plaudits when he collected a Patchett offload for his hat-trick at the final whistle.

Bradford Dudley Hill cantered to a 40-0 home win against strugglers Drighlington.

Hooker Ryan Dickinson got the Hill tally moving early doors, soon followed by a sparking brace from centre Danny Lee to give the Parry Laners a 16-0 half-time lead.

It was more of the same in the second stanza as full back Aiden Batey, wingman Neil Wall, stand-off Tony Williams and packman Kyle Bateman all made the chalk, scrum half Simon Sewell finishing with six conversions.