WEST Bowling suddenly look a good bet to survive in the National Conference Premier Division, despite spending the whole season in the relegation zone.
The Bradford side looked done for after losing all of their opening six games and even after picking up a handful of valuable home wins, the sides they have been trying to chase have always managed to keep them at arm’s length.
But on Saturday, they beat relegation rivals Kells 36-16 on enemy territory, their first away league victory all year.
It marked a third win in a row for John Williams’ side, and while they are still in the relegation zone on points difference, they have bundles of momentum at the moment.
With four league games left to play, they travel to face another struggler in Heworth this Saturday, with whoever wins that encounter in North Yorkshire likely to take a giant stride towards safety.
Stanningley are just the right side of the drop zone in Division One for now, but they will be sweating, their latest defeat seeing them lose 30-12 at high-flying Crosfields.
Drighlington’s promotion bid in Division Three is being hampered by the sides above them taking points from their games in hand.
But the BD11 outfit, currently fourth, still look likely to at least finish in a play-off place regardless, which will give them a real chance of ascending to Division Two.
Keighley Albion entertained Fryston Warriors at the weekend in the Yorkshire Men’s League Premier Division, but they failed to make home advantage count, so remain third-bottom of the table.
The two sides both played their part in a good game of rugby league, but the visitors came out on top with a 32-20 victory.
Down in Division One, Bradford Dudley Hill’s league campaign has fallen off a cliff, and they sit third-bottom themselves, their latest defeat coming at leaders Siddal Academy, where they lost 34-14.
Wibsey Warriors were desperately unlucky on Saturday, coming agonisingly close to their first win of the season, only to fall to a 28-26 defeat at mid-table Hunslet ARLFC.
Things were more clearcut last Wednesday, as Wibsey lost 38-20 to Ossett Trinity Tigers.
Queensbury stay bottom of Division Two after conceding to Moldgreen, while Brighouse Rangers were overtaken at the top after losing 16-12 to new leaders Castleford Panthers.
Division Three side Wyke were not in league action, instead taking on Odsal Sedbergh for the Eddie McGuinness Memorial Trophy.
McGuinness played for both sides, coached the open age team at Sedbergh and worked as the fitness conditioner at Bradford Bulls and Salford City Reds, but he was killed in 2009 at the age of 43 after being struck by a car in Low Moor as he crossed the road.
The memorial trophy was competed for between Wyke and Odsal between 2009 to 2015, with the latter winning the previous three editions.
But on its return at the weekend, Wyke claimed the trophy for the first time since 2012 with a 36-16 victory.
Keighley Albion Academy went fourth in Division Six by winning 46-28 at King Cross Park Academy.
West Bowling Academy remain two points clear at the top of the NCL Alliance Division after thrashing Heworth ‘A’ 56-12.
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