West Bowling 30 Upton 20

WEST Bowling overcame a strong Upton outfit to ensure they finished Pennine League Premier Division runners-up in a rousing encounter at Emsley's Rec.

The tone was set straight from the kick-off when Upton prop Scott Boughen was put clear, only to be felled by a magnificent tackle from Bowling full back Karl Robinson, who also took the ball in the process.

He then started a sweeping attack that resulted in wingman Karl Spring crossing in the corner, leaving scrum half Ben Heald to add the extras from the touchline side.

Upton used their heavy packmen to make ground and hooker Liam Harnell used his bulk on the blindside to open their tally before Robinson was denied by a swinging arm close to the line.

Hooker Joe Lumb produced a clever inside pass from the tap-and-run penalty to put second-row forward Jason Marshall in at the side of the posts, allowing Heald a simple conversion.

Marshall then proved to be the provider when he broke clear and his sublime pass around a defender fell into the welcome arms of centre Adam Reardon, who reached the chalk unopposed.

Heald, who never missed a conversion in the game, gave West’s an 18-4 lead but the visitors had no intention of rolling over with 15 minutes still left in the half. A short-range barge from prop Ross Borrows was followed by another converted effort from centre Craig Hulme against a glaring lack of cover out wide.

West’s were punished once again on the shaky left flank when wingman Mark Tepper reached the whitewash as Bowling found themselves 20-18 down at the break.

West’s packman Ollie Bartle was held up over the line on the restart as the hosts set about restoring their dominance and when Upton were penalised for using an elbow in the tackle, stand-off Max Trueman created the chance for Spring to claim his brace.

The visitors had clearly given their all against the very fit and mobile Bowling youngsters and were reduced in numbers when centre Harry Stevens was sent to the sin bin for punching as their frustration mounted.

It was appropriate that Marshall should have the final accolade as a reward for his outstanding performance when he came on the loop to collect a deft pass from Lumb to put matters beyond any doubt to crown a cracking second-half performance and climax to their Premier Division campaign.