Amateur Rugby League: Holders West Bowling have a giant hurdle to overcome if they are to retain the Rhodes Booth Ramsbottom Bradford Cup when they visit high flying Queensbury tomorrow.

Bury are the Pennine League team of the season so far - sitting proudly at the top of the Premier Division having and boasting an unbeaten home record.

They know their Hill Top ground like the back of their hand and always use its infamous slope to the best of their advantage. The Queensbury pack is bang in form at present with their skilful hooker Matt Galtress gaining plenty of plaudits.

They will fondly remember last season's league encounter when they inflicted a 10-9 defeat on their local rivals.

Bowling on the other hand will point to the fact that they are the only team to beat Bury in the league, posting a convincing 28-20 success at Bankfoot in early December.

On that day centre Martin Tordoff scored a hat-trick and he will present a big threat in his present form. The pack will be strengthened with the addition of props Julian Key and Richard Greenwood.

Clayton are at home to Undercliffe in what promises to be another cracking semi-final tie. They gave the Premier newcomers a footballing lesson when they won the league encounter 84-6 at the Delph.

That game must seem light years away to the Villagers as they struggle to regain their early season form.

Ex-Bradford Bull Phil Hellewell has retired and left the club and his skill and leadership is bound to be badly missed.

On a positive note long serving John Atkinson is back in tandem with Paul Gill - a move that could trigger a revival.

In Division One Birkenshaw are at home to Walnut Warriors while Wibsey Sedbergh will be confident of continuing their recent run the visit to bottom club Ovenden A.

Wyke should be too good for Division Two strugglers Hoyland Vikings at Towngate and there is a Division Three top of the table clash at Bankfoot where West Bowling A play Rotherham.

Victoria Rangers can scupper Keighley Albion A's title hopes if they take the spoils at Eccleshill and something has to give when the top two teams in Division Five meet up at Hillsborough Hawks with the visit of Queensbury A.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.