Underdogs Birkenshaw gave Pennine Premier League Champions Drighlington a real run for their money before falling to a 37-22 defeat in the Presidents Cup final at the Dewsbury Rams Stadium.

Birky struck the first blow when centre Paul Clarke collected a precision kick from scrum half Andy Hirst to pounce and wingman Karl Wroe added the extras.

Classy Drighlington resp-onded immediately when hooker Sam Pickles burrowed over. Stand-off Adam Newton soon followed with a score which, together with another try from full back Kevin Doyle, saw them into the sheds 18-6 up.

Birky started the second stanza in determined fashion but, when prop Glenn Penn-ington found acres of space to virtually walk over, the signs looked ominous.

Clarke made a complete hash of a golden opportunity by showboating but centre Mor-ton Robinson made amends when he squeezed in at the corner.

Stand-off John Gallagher pinned his ears back for another splendid effort and, when Robison found Hirst when he looked boxed in on the touchline, it was suddenly game on at 24-22.

Drighlington dug deep to fire in two converted tries from Lee Mulhearn and Steve McIntyre which, together with an unnecessary drop goal from Newton, saw them land the double.

Meanwhile, hooker Sha Basha scored two tries as West Bowling staged a remarkable second-half comeback to defeat Wyke 40-20 in the Andrew Bennett Trophy curtain-raiser.

Wyke opened up in fine style when stand-off Adrian Leek burrowed over and fullback Craig Hillam added the extras.

Wests lost scrum half Sam Whitehouse with a broken ankle and Wyke hooker Ian Watkinson took advantage to scoot behind the posts and Hillam ensured full reward.

Bowling opened up their account when stand-off Mark Dunning's deft pass put centre Martin Tordoff on route to the whitewash but the black and whites edged further in front when loose forward James Dewhirst collected to cross out wide.

Centre Paul Bapty created a huge gap to sprint to the chalk and it looked all over bar the shouting, with Wyke in front 20-4 at the break.

But Bowling came out all guns blazing. First, prop Lee Hutchinson collected a Dun-ning off-load to cross and Basha kept the defence guessing only to hold on and crash over with a two-man over lap.

He soon followed with his second and fullback Ash Wood joined the line to put Wests further in the driving seat.

Second row forward Paul Hutchinson proved unstoppable which left loose forward Bob Benn to finish off the purple patch with the final try of a quite remarkable match.

Dunning completed his sixth conversion and Bowling were home and dry, having registered an amazing 36 points without reply.