Clayton 4, Birkenshaw 52

Wingman Karl Robinson posted a hat-trick as Birkenshaw romped into the final of the Jack Senior Memorial Bradford Cup with a ten-try haul against Clayton at Lidget Green.

Clayton, playing down the slope, made a lively start with a number of power raids on the Birky line, with prop John Parkinson held up just short.

But they fell behind when Birky centre Chris Clough regained his feet after an ankle tap and put Robinson in at the corner.

Scrum half Thomas Wilcock was unfortunate not to level matters with a tap and run that saw him hauled back inches short before the visitors edged further in front when full back Ben Nabozny made the extra man from a scrum to race clear for another unconverted effort.

A sweeping passing move among the three-quarters saw Clough canter to the whitewash far enough in for scrum half Matt Honysett to add the extras for a 14-0 advantage.

However, the powerhouse Parkinson was further denied just before the break when he lost the ball in the act of touching down as the Villagers closed the half on attack.

Home hopes were revived on the restart when centre Jimmy Waddington raced 40 metres up the middle, only to run out of support, before Birky replied with another crisp passing move to send Damian Smith over out wide.

Clayton were rewarded for their tenacity when substitute wingman Connor Mahoney raced in at the corner for a try on his debut but it was only a brief respite from the relentless Birky attacking machine that saw prop forward Shaun Godfrey gallop over at the side of the posts.

Any lingering dream of an Odsal final appearance for the embattled hosts disappeared when stand-off Ross Grattan raced in straight from the kick-off, and Smith rapidly followed with his brace.

The speed of Robinson paid dividends at the flag and his progress to his hat-trick was only delayed by a short-range effort from second-row forward Beniot Rogers.

Honysett played his part, finishing with six conversions to add to the total in a match that was a credit to both sides in entertainment value and self-discipline, with veteran referee Bob Ingham also making a major contribution with his unflappable judgements.