Amateur Rugby League: Clayton's foreboding that the heavy ground conditions at The Delph would prove their downfall were quickly realised in the first round of the Silk Cut Challenge Cup against Siddal.

The Villagers opened up in style by pounding the visitors' line, but when speedsters Darren Collins and Chris Parr looked to have broken clear the clinging mud blunted their pace and two chances were lost.

The Halifax side posted a penalty, which was soon cancelled out by Adam Mitchell when second row forward Craig Pickthall had the ball stolen with the line at his mercy.

Conference outfit Siddal proved their credentials when they caught Clayton's defence napping to post two well-worked tries, and then rubbed salt further in the wound with two penalties to lead 14-2 at the break.

The second half was a war of attrition and, despite a valiant effort, Clayton rarely made it out of their own half in the mud, wind and rain. Siddal hooker Martin Scrimshaw finished it all off with a late try.

Birkenshaw A took pride of place in the first round of the Hudson & Foster Bradford Cup with a thrilling 15-14 win at home to Shipley in extra time.

Birkenshaw looked to be coasting when they built up a 14-0 half-time lead, thanks to two tries from Brandon Robinson and a fine effort from player-coach Dave Metcalfe. Steve Laws kicked the only goal.

Shipley turned the tables on the re-start with two tries from John Askham, plus one from Richard Ridewood. Darren Ellerton kicked the goal that levelled matters, but the cool head of Birkenshaw's Ian Stewart clinched the tie with a drop goal.

Queensbury A ran in 18 tries to win 96-0 at Undercliffe A. Hooker Steven Senior claimed six of them, while loose forward Shaun Fallon had a personal tally of 32 points with two tries and 12 goals. Mark Craft (2), Andy Thornton, Paul Skelton, Chris Cannon, Martin Kemp and John Batters claimed the others.

Victoria Rangers coasted through 38-0 at home to recently-reformed Odsal Sedbergh A. Ray Greenwood was in excellent form with a hat-trick, ably assisted by John Belcher, Paul Marks, Steve Maycock and - with his first touch of the ball - substitute Paul Sunderland. Phil Greenwood kicked five goals.

In the Pennine League Premier Division, Queensbury lost out in injury time for the second week on the trot, but can gain some consolation in the fact that there was little they could do to prevent the kick-and-chase effort which cost them the points.

They looked completely out of sorts in a first half which found them trailing 10-0 at the interval. The second period saw a change in fortunes with fine tries from centre Gareth Hobson and wingman Steven Iyles.

Lee Baron kicked three goals, and at 14-10 they looked on course for a win until that late converted effort under the posts thwarted their ambitions. Full back Andrew Barraclough was outstanding for Queensbury.

In Division One, it was a cause for a double celebration for Birkenshaw who ran out 12-2 winners at home to Undercliffe in a derby.

Tim Hunt scored the visitors' only points with an early penalty before centre Jason Brooksbank crossed for Birkenshaw's opener, goaled by Jarrod Toulson. Full back Morton Robinson added a further try in the second half, with Toulson tacking on the extras. Birkenshaw's defence was up to the task, with Johnny Turpin to the fore as Undercliffe unsuccessfully staged a fightback.

Division Two's Dudley Hill Eagles conceded two late tries to give promotion contenders St Joseph's a flattering 22-14 win. The Eagles led 14-4 at half-time with two tries from Matthew Green and one from Steve Fowler.

Chris Walsh kicked their only goal, but he was sadly missed when he was forced to retire with a head wound that required 12 stitches.

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