WEST Bowling look to be on course for a great escape in the National Conference League Premier Division, as they aim to avoid an immediate return to the second tier.
They enjoyed arguably their best win of the season on Saturday, scoring twice late on to beat high-flying Hunslet ARLFC 30-26 at Horsfall.
The victory has moved them just two points off safety with five games to go.
And the Bradford side have some real momentum now, with three wins in their last four matches.
All five of their league victories this season have come in BD6 though, so the fact their next two matches come away to relegation rivals Kells and Heworth may be of slight concern to head coach John Williams.
But if they can perform at anywhere near the level they did against fourth-placed Hunslet, they will give themselves every chance of winning both of those games.
On Saturday, Bowling and Hunslet managed five tries apiece, with the Bradford side crossing the whitewash through Nathaniel Light, Elliott Cousins, Owen Simpson, Richard Lumb and Jack Milburn.
But crucially, Harry Williams landed all five of his conversion attempts on the afternoon, whereas the visitors were only successful with three of theirs.
Like West Bowling, Stanningley are fighting to stay up too, and their Division One survival chances took a nasty hit with a disappointing 22-18 home defeat to bottom side Clock Face Miners at the weekend.
Keighley Albion remain sixth in the eight-team Yorkshire Men’s League Premier Division after suffering a 26-10 home defeat to second-placed Doncaster Toll Bar.
Bradford Dudley Hill romped to a comfortable home win over neighbours Wibsey Warriors in Division One on Friday night, romping to a 44-18 victory over their rock-bottom visitors.
The mid-table hosts built up a 26-0 towards the end of the first half, and led 27-6 by the break.
Wibsey fought back gamely, reducing the deficit to nine points early in the second half, but they were unable to add to their total, and Dudley Hill found a second gear to win comprehensively.
There was another derby in Division Two, with Birkenshaw Blue Dogs moving up to third-bottom with a 20-6 victory at basement side Queensbury.
Brighouse Rangers remain top of that division, holding their nerve to win a tricky game 24-18 at Seacroft Sharks.
Lowly Wyke put up a good fight at second-placed Dodworth Miners in Division Three, but fell to a 32-18 defeat.
Down in Division Six, Keighley Albion suffered a surprisingly comprehensive 36-6 defeat at fellow high-flyers Hemsworth Dragons.
Finally, West Bowling Academy were forced to concede their home game against Shaw Cross Sharks’ second team, leaving them just two points clear of Stanningley A and Eastmoor Dragons at the summit of the NCL Alliance Division.
Bowling have two games in hand on Stanningley and one over Eastmoor, so the title is still very much in their hands.
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