Amateur Rugby League: Birkenshaw produced a rousing performance to win 12-8 at Seaton Pack Horse in the first round of the BNFL National Cup.

The visitors found the Cumbrian outfit a handful in the early stages when they were starved of possession.

But they capitalised on their meagre control of the ball to score two excellent tries from Alan Menzies and Ryan Bostock. Both tries were converted by Glen Tillotson.

They restricted Seaton to a single penalty to turn round 12-2 up at the break.

The second half saw Birkenshaw defend superbly and it was only when second row forward Andy Redmond was sin-binned after retaliating that the Cumberland League side managed to cross for a consolation effort late in the game.

It was a bad day for Bradford's two Pennine League Premier Division sides.

Clayton's 30-6 defeat at home to Park Amateurs looks to have scuppered their title ambitions.

They crashed to their fifth defeat of the season in disappointing fashion against the strong Halifax visitors, their only try coming from wingman Jeremy Robertshaw which was converted by Darren Collins.

Second row forward Andy Stephenson had a storming match on his return from Keighley Cougars but the Villagers badly missed the class of centre Chris Parr who was out injured.

Queensbury had an almost impossible task of avenging their Pennine Cup exit at the hands of Elland when they were forced to make wholesale changes due to injuries and the flu bug.

They crashed to a 34-10 defeat but gained a great deal of satisfaction from a backs-to -the-wall display in which forward Matthew Galtress and centre Trevor Stead were outstanding.

Tries came from wingman Darren Brown and Steven Eyles with two goals from centre Lee Baron.

Undercliffe travelled to Odsal Sedbergh in Division One and ran out 36-4 winners.

Wyke stand-off Steve Housen was the instigator behind the comprehensive 34-10 home win against Ovenden A in Division Two. When Wyke fell behind to an early converted try he took the game by the scruff of the neck.

He provided two superb passes to send centre Darren Barraclough and wingman Paul Metcalfe all the way to the line.

Further efforts came from forwards Barney Page, David Farrell and Paul Ratcliffe. Metcalfe rounded off his afternoon with a further try and five goals.

West Bowling A went on the rampage 60-16 at home to Underbank Rangers A to keep their four-point lead at the top of Division Three.

Stand-off Paul Priestley grabbed the limelight with five tries and second row Bob Benn posted two.

Division Four unbeaten leaders Queens-bury A pulled off their finest performance of the season with a 50-0 success at home to Lindley Swifts A.

First team call-ups left coach Richard Cheney with a depleted side but a hat-trick from prop Martin Kemp on one of his rare appearances was the catalyst which sparked his team.

Shaun Fallon (2), Neil Hobson (2), Andy Thornton and Paul Skelton also crossed, with hooker Steven Gallagher kicking seven goals.

Shipley had a welcome 29-6 success in Division Five against Undercliffe A on their return to Peel Park.

Tries came from John Askham (2), Mick Poulther, Tony Parkinson and Alan Hobson, with four goals and a drop goal from Darren Ellerton.

Prop forward Hobson was playing his last game of the season before his forthcoming marriage in March.

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