IT was a superb start to the competitive rugby league season for West Bowling and Bradford Dudley Hill, with both securing big wins in Group F of the National Conference League.

New boy Ryan Smith and Liam Darville both crossed for two tries apiece as Bowling romped to a 58-4 success over Featherstone Lions.

The Lions will actually be in the division above Bowling when the 2022 season gets underway, but it didn't look as if that was the case in a one-sided game at Horsfall.

As well as the braces for Smith and Darville, there were tries for Ben Heald, Bradley Wright, Nicholas Fontaine, Daniel Halmshaw, Jack Milburn, Richard Lumb and Michael Kite.

Liam Coe kicked six goals, while there was one for Harry Williams too.

Kyle Carter grabbed a hat-trick of tries in Dudley Hill's superb 42-22 win over Underbank Rangers.

Underbank gave Bradford Bulls a good game in the Challenge Cup last February, only losing 22-0, but they were well beaten here.

As well as Carter's superb treble, there was a brace of tries for veteran Neil Wall, who also kicked four goals on a great afternoon for him at Parry Lane.

Aiden Batey, Martin Southwell and Daniel Lee also crossed to score for Dudley Hill, with Zachary Cowlishaw adding a goal off the interchange bench.

Despite tries from Jack Dearden and Steven Meldrum, Drighlington fell to a heavy 44-10 against Thornhill Trojans.

It was the first competitive game for any of the trio since last March.