Birkenshaw 36 Greetland All Rounders 22

Birkenshaw ran in a sparkling, seven-try feast to put the brakes on Greetland's Division One title ambitions at East Bierley.

Birky looked to be on course for a big total when they led 18-0 on the half-hour after a cracking try from prop Graham Trueman, who backed up smartly to cross at the posts, soon followed by a spectacular effort from Johnny Turpin.

The loose forward started the move with a pass to wingman Nick Price, who tip-toed down the touchline and drew full back Pete Duggan, leaving Turpin in the clear for a simple touchdown.

Half-back John Gallagher accepted an Andy Hirst offload to add to the visitors' misery, which, together with three conversions from stand-out hooker George Flanagan, spoke volumes for their class and flair.

The Halifax side, however, are well known for their resilience and Duggan put them back in contention when he sold a dummy to cross, and then repeated the dose by joining the line out wide to squeeze in at the corner.

Centre Jake McCarthy added the conversion to put the game back in the melting pot at 18-10.

Assistant coach Joe Berry's interval words of wisdom appeared to do the trick for a refocused Birkenshaw when second- row forward Ben Cousen spotted a gap on the blind-side to scatter the visitors' defence.

And he was to the fore once more with a powerhouse break to carve out a gap that sent centre Paul Clarke scampering to the whitewash.

Duggan was gifted his hat-trick when all the Birky players stopped, waiting for a knock-on decision that never came, and Clarke bombed in spectacular fashion when he stuck tight with an overlap on both sides.

Tempers began to fray when second-row forward Paul Bancroft exchanged punches with McCarthy, which referee Darren Bean quickly defused by flourishing the yellow card.

Clarke made up for his earlier gaffe when he steamed in for his second from 30 metres out, but it was the never-say-die Duggan hoovering up out wide who crossed for his fourth of the game immediately afterwards.

The impressive Hirst, who was at the hub of things throughout, created the gap for wingman John Evans to close proceedings.

They confirm that Birkenshaw, undoubtedly the form side in the division, are moving ominously up the table. They are sixth with games in hand.