WEST Bowling are preparing for a momentous occasion this Saturday as they play host to Dewsbury Moor Maroons in the NCL play-offs.
It’s the first knockout contest of the Conference League play-off series this year and West Bowling know only a victory will see them through to the next round.
The Bradford side earned the right to compete at this level, following an impressive Division 1 (F) campaign- storming to a first placed finish with 11 wins from as many games.
As for their opposition, Dewsbury, they competed in League E and finished second to Normanton Knights, while they lost five of their league fixtures out of a possible 13.
With everything to play for and a stage in the play-off quarter finals up for grabs, Ryan Hunkin, head coach of West Bowling, said: “There’s a really good feeling around camp going into these play-offs.
“Everyone is really excited and ready to rip into the Dewsbury game. We’ve done well in our league and Dewsbury have in theirs so it’s an intriguing and exciting fixture to be going into.
“In our last fixture against Lock Lane we had to come up against some adversity and come back from 22-8 down.
“There was a lot of good feeling around that game because they’re the type of games you want to be involved in- the tight and close games rather than blowing teams off the park.”
Hunkin added: “That win has certainly given us that added boost going into the Dewsbury game. It was always our target to reach the play-offs and we’ve made no secret about it.
“We wanted to compete with some really good teams and I think we have done that a fair bit this season, coming up against teams like Lock Lane, Underbank and Thornhill.
“It has been a tough season but we felt that if we got into the play-offs then we would have had a successful season.”
Despite an immaculate league campaign, Hunkin believes his side fall short of being favourites for promotion.
He said: “You can’t look past Siddal, Hunslet Parkside or Pilkington Recs.
“They’re consistently around the top of the National Conference Premier Division. 100 percent that’s where we want to be because we’ve got a great young side that’s building very nicely.
“We definitely want to test ourselves against these sides, but we certainly won’t be going into the play-offs as favourites. We will be looking to take each game as it comes.”
West Bowling do face their first knockout match on Saturday (KO: 3:00 PM), hosting Dewsbury on this occasion and Hunkin is expecting a tough test.
He said: “They’re a very physical side (Dewsbury), especially through the middle and they’ve got a lot of speed on the wings.
“Teams around Dewsbury have smart rugby-league players and it’s a hotbed of the sport so you don’t find any one-dimensional rugby-league teams coming from Dewsbury. "
“And this side will be no different. They’ve earnt the right to play in the play-offs so I’m sure they will be up for it, and we are expecting a tough fixture.”
West Bowling's academy meanwhile are in action in Division Three of the Yorkshire Men's League, as they host Hunslet Club Parkside.
Odsal Sebergh visit Elland in the same division, coming off the back of a fine 48-22 win at Stanningley.
Sedbergh were 18-6 down, but bounced back to win in style, with Luke Dawson scoring a try and succesfully kicking all eight of his conversion attempts through the posts.
In Division Five West, Brighouse Rangers A host Queensbury A, while Birkenshaw Blue Dogs are at Todmorden.
Wyke A host Thornhill Trojans in the same division.
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