HAVING been on the wrong end of a tight defeat away, Bradford Dudley Hill are hoping to get their home Kingstone Press National Conference League Division One programme off to a winning start tomorrow when they meet fellow promoted side Oulton Raiders.

Hill made the short trip to Kirkstall to face Milford Marlins last weekend and lost 7-6.

The visitors gave a very strong defensive performance all first half, but perhaps a lack of composure at times stopped them from going in front, although Milford also proved a tough nut.

The introduction of Seb Russo before the interval gave Hill a bit more sharpness out of acting half, with his dummy half running causing the big Milford pack problems around the ruck, but the visitors were sluggish at the start of the second half.

A raft of Hill piggy-back penalties led to Milford taking the lead with a try in the 49th minute by James Barker that was converted, and they added a drop goal nine minutes later

However, hard yards from the back by Jamie Brentley and Neil Wall, plus some big busts by Kyle Bateman, put the visitors back in the hunt, and Andy Walker got over on the stroke of full-time, with Simon Sewell adding the touchline extras.

Hill’s first-team manager Steve Wright said: “It was a frustrating afternoon.

“Our defensive efforts were fantastic, and Jamie Brentley and Neil Wall saved our bacon a couple of times defensively out wide, but also made massive metres going forward.

“We really need to cut the penalties out as they wouldn’t have been in scoring positions were it not for our ill discipline.”

In Division Two, Drighlington get their season underway at Dewsbury Moor Maroons, while West Bowling travel to Saddleworth Rangers hoping to improve on last week’s 30-24 defeat at home to Wigan St Judes.

In the Yorkshire Men’s League’s Forty20 Cup, Queensbury host New Earswick All Blacks, looking to build on their 14-10 win over Nottingham Outlaws.