West's efforts not rewarded

West Bowling fought bravely but ultimately in vain in their National Confer-ence League Premier Division clash with Thornhill Trojans.

Bowling started brightly and the result may have been different if winger Ben Whyte's try had not been ruled out for a forward pass in the eighth minute.

That decision proved costly as the Trojans then scored two tries in as many minutes. Firstly a break by winger Johnny Campbell provided the field position for hooker Richard Pachniuk to scoot over before a poor defensive effort on their own line then allowed centre Eddie Mack to cross the whitewash.

With full back Craig Holmes adding a conversion, Bowling were 10-0 in arrears. However, to their credit, they came back but the Thornhill side, coached by Wake-field Wildcat Paul March, were tough and well organised in defence.

Bowling suffered a further setback in the 24th minute when scrum half Gareth Cullington was sin-binned for kicking out, Holmes adding the penalty.

With Wests a man down, Trojans came up with the best play of the game. Stand-off Scott Dyson made a break down the left-hand side before off-loading to Holmes, who in turn fed Campbell before scrum half Liam Morley gratefully accepted a clear run to the line. Holmes converted to make it 18-0, and only a brilliant piece of skill by Peter Simpson prevented a further score, the Bowling full back managing to knock the ball from Anthony Broadhead's grasp as he crossed the line.

However, it was a brief respite as second row Matty Roberts skipped over for a converted try.

Down 24-0, Bowling came out fired up in the second half with forwards Andrew Senior and Paul Hutchinson refusing to take a backward step.

The third quarter developed into an arm wrestle' but the contest erupted after 62 minutes when Cullington was spear-tackled by Thornhill's Lee Scho-field, both Schofield and Bowling hooker Glenn Barraclough being sin-binned after the subsequent melee.

The incident fired Bowling up and centre Tim Sutcliffe knocked on over the line while under heavy pressure.

However, the game was over a couple of minutes later when a failed attempt at a kick through saw Morley pick up the ball and sprint the length of the pitch to touch down, Holmes' conversion making it 30-0.

Bowling were rewarded for their efforts when Cullington ploughed over from five yards out, Whyte converting, but the last word went to the visitors, loose forward Kieron Talbot finding his way to the line.