CLAYTON'S superlative defence took centre stage to ensure an 18-16 success against previously unbeaten Oulton Raiders in the Pennine League at Lidget Green Oval.

The Villagers made all the early running against the runaway Division Two Central leaders and earned a richly-deserved advantage when stand-off Jack Bowman hoisted a kick to the corner to pave the way for wingman Gareth Jacklin to reach the chalk.

Centre Ryan Wilkinson tagged on the extras before he steamed on to a short offload from loose forward Simon Giles to massage the total further.

The Raiders lived up to their name when they responded with a converted effort but Wilkinson was once again on target with a penalty to put the hosts into the sheds 12-6 up.

Oulton camped in the Clayton half for long periods on the restart and looked to be on song to keep their undefeated record when they inched 16-12 in front on the hour mark.

But Bowman produced another wicked kick that was batted back into the arms of wingman Michael Cunliffe to level the scores.

Wilkinson calmly added the vital conversion, leaving a nail-biting final ten-minute period of intense Raiders pressure before Clayton finally claimed a memorable victory.

Meanwhile, Wyke enjoyed a 30-28 home win in a fiery Andrew Bennett Memorial Trophy first-round clash with Moorends Thorne.

The black and whites looked bang out of sorts early doors and found themselves 12-0 down before coach Ian Wormald rang the changes, bringing on props Phil Oliver and Bobby Stewart plus their inspirational half-back Jordan Payton.

The alterations quickly paid dividends when wingman Tevin Campbell seized on a loose ball to race 90 metres to the whitewash.

This was soon followed by tries for centre Sam Kittsen and Cameron Foster, leaving Wyke to reach the interval 18-14 in arrears.

Wingman Dan Worby scampered in on the restart and the rattled Doncaster side went a man down following a red card after a punch-up.

A neat inside pass put Gary Worley over at the side of the uprights and the best try of the game fittingly confirmed victory when Payton was on the end of his inspired kick through to canter under the posts.

This left second-row forward Alec Williams to make sure of full reward and book a place in the hat for the next round.