West Bowling 6

Oulton Raiders 30

A costly defensive blunder sent West Bowling crashing to a National Conference Premier Division defeat against Oulton Raiders at the Bankfoot Oval.

Bowling made a lively start but the Raiders took the lead against the run of play when their enterprising stand off Gavin Wood - who was a constant thorn in the host's side all afternoon - brought full back Alan White into the gap as the extra man and scrum half Scott Goodhall added the conversion.

Bowling shrugged off the setback when the tireless Owen spotted the chance to send centre Neil Walton charging through for his first try for the club at the side of the posts which left scrum half Andy Robinson the simple task of adding the extras to close the half all square 6-6.

Bowling had the chance to go in front on the restart following a head-high shot on full back Andy Leek but they decided to run the ball and only desperate defence from the visitors kept their line in tact from the resulting set of six.

With a menacing Bowling camped firmly in Oulton territory disaster struck when they failed to cover the back door from a scrum.

Wood spotted the error and hoisted a huge kick the length of the field and the speedy White won the race to post his second.

Bowling suffered another blow when Wood strode out of two tackles to send centre Jonathan Hirst scooting over and then the Raiders kept the ball alive on the last tackle and substitute Nick Dobson was at hand to cross the whitewash with the home defence all at sea.

With a mountain to climb Bowling stuck to the task with their experienced duo player- coach Glenn Barraclough and loose forward Nigel Halmshaw setting the example. But it was all in a lost cause when Oulton forward Lee Denton took advantage of tired legs to cross under the uprights.

Hirst added all the conversions and slotted over a late penalty to ensure a Raiders victory that had looked very unlikely on their first half showing.