WEST Bowling suffered an agonising defeat in St Helens on Saturday, going down 28-24 to Thatto Heath Crusaders in the National Conference League Premier Division.

John Williams’ charges had won two of their last three games to give them a huge boost in their relegation fight, but a brutal 66-10 defeat at leaders Hunslet ARLFC gave them a reality check.

And this defeat to the Crusaders on Saturday could yet prove costly, with Bowling’s hosts alongside them in battling against the dreaded drop.

Thatto Heath moved two points above Bowling with victory, which meant the Bradford side dropped to second bottom in the table, only above cellar-dwellers Lock Lane.

Both sides scored five tries apiece on Merseyside, Dan Halmshaw, Bradley Wright, Demir Acarer, Haydn Spence and Jack Milburn all crossing the whitewash for the visitors.

But crucially, Bowling half back Harry Williams only landed two of his five conversion attempts, while Thatto Heath’s goal kicker made four of his.

In Division One, Stanningley moved clear of the struggling bottom four, beating basement side Hull Dockers 30-22 in an entertaining encounter.

Drighlington had been out of form in Division Three, but they got back on track with a comprehensive 50-16 win over rock-bottom Featherstone Lions, moving up to third in the process.

Over in the Yorkshire Men’s League Premier Division, Keighley Albion have slipped to second-bottom.

Just two points separate first to seventh in the eight-team league, so a win on Saturday would have kept Albion off top spot on points difference only.

But they were hammered at new leaders Doncaster Toll Bar, who beat them 56-10.

Bradford Dudley Hill moved up to second into Division One, as they thumped winless Bradford rivals Wibsey Warriors 46-16.

A solid platform from the Hill pack, ably led by man of the match prop forward Mark Safranauskas, helped the Parry Lane men to a comfortable 40-4 lead at the break.

A first half Wibsey try spurred the Hill boys on to up the tempo a notch and doubles from wing man Neil Wall and centre Dan Lee, along with tries from full back Callum Lisle, stand off Martin Southwell, loose forward Nathan Broadbent and hooker Ben Sheridan plus the addition of four goals from scrum half Simon Sewell, meant the game was over after 40 minutes.

With Wibsey coming down the hill in the second half, their forwards were gaining some valuable momentum, and some errors from Dudley Hill boys saw the hosts claw back some respectability.

But an individual effort from centre Aiden Batey, along with the conversion from Sewell, was a nice way for the visitors to round off their victory.

Division Two leaders Brighouse Rangers slipped up with a 26-16 home defeat to Illingworth, while Queensbury leapt up to fifth with an impressive 34-28 victory over Moldgreen.

In Division Three, struggling Wyke remain rock-bottom after losing 88-0 at Bramley Buffaloes.

Finally, in the NCL Alliance Division, West Bowling Academy went top by beating Eastmoor Dragons 30-12.