Bradford 5, Ben Rhydding II 3 - This may have been Bradford's final match of the season in Yorkshire Men's League Division One, but the contest was more akin to a cup-tie such were the thrills and spills and end-to-end play.

Bradford. chasing the runners-up berth, began confidently and, despite Ben Rhydding's organised defence, the visitors were unable to prevent Mark Backhouse opening the scoring for Bradford in the sixth minute.

He followed up a Richard Harpin shot which rebounded off the keeper's pads. This setback unsettled Ben Rhydding, who struggled under Bradford pressure, but they defended resolutely, keeping the deficit at 1-0 by the interval.

In the second half, Ben Rhydding looked more like their in-form selves, and on numerous occasions they asked questions of the hosts' defence.

Bradford's stalwart young defender Simon Carter foiled frequent Ben Rhydding probes down their right, and Chris Hadcroft was twice called into action to save well from penalty corners.

Ten minutes after the break, however, Ian Cussons equalised with a sharply-struck rising shot from the edge of the circle, beating the keeper, who was partially unsighted, inside his right post.

Five minutes later, following a cut suffered by the opposing skipper, Jaspal Panesar put Bradford ahead from a penalty corner, and six minutes after that Harpin confidently made it 3-1.

However, Ben Rhydding fought back with characteristic determination, Harmer's flick from a penalty corner making it 3-2, and soon after it was 3-3 following a free hit from outside the circle.

Only concentrated and composed defence from Nigel Lyster, Iain Lettice and Danny Isbeque prevented Ben Rhydding taking charge, and Panesar, assisted by Patrick Meredith, put Bradford in front again, Meredith finishing the scoring in style.