With the winter campaign now at an end, Bradford has once again proved to be a hotbed of Amateur Rugby League talent.

Top marks must go to local National Conference giants Bradford Dudley Hill and West Bowling.

Hill made a great decision in abandoning the summer game to return to the Conference at the start of the season and have shown their pedigree by gaining promotion to Division One as runners-up at the first attempt.

West Bowling, who were tipped as relegation favourites right from the off, confounded the pundits by rolling up their sleeves to stay in the flagship Premier Division by a clear three points.

The omens for the club look good on the wider front too, with the second team gaining promotion to Pennine League One, just four points behind runaway champions Ackwor-th, while also adding the Andrew Bennett Trophy to the silverware cabinet after posting a remarkable comeback against old rivals Wyke at Dewsbury Rams on Monday.

Pennine Premier Division stalwarts Queensbury finished a credible fifth, level on points with New Earswick, and also retained the Jack Senior Bradford Cup in a cracking game against Birke-nshaw at Grattan Stadium.

Clayton had a disappointing season by their high standards but their young reserves brought home the Hudson & Foster Supplementary Bradford Cup after a tremendous tussle against a rapidly improving Wibsey Warriors in the Odsal curtain-raiser before a bumper crowd.

Birkenshaw lost out on three fronts by narrowly missing Division One promotion and followed up on the losing side in two excellent Bradford and Pennine League cup finals.

While they will be bitterly disappointed, the standards have been set to go one better next term.

Victoria Rangers pulled off the great escape to keep their Division One status by a point when they looked down and out at the turn of the year while Odsal Sedbergh and Dudley Hill A depart Division Two with only two wins to show for their efforts.

Wyke, however, are rapidly improving at a great rate of knots and have finished Division Three champions on points difference.

They looked on song for the Andrew Bennett trophy, leading 20-4 at half-time until West Bowling A ran riot in the second period.

Queensbury A are on their way down, having struggled all season due to first-team calls, but Bank Top Harriers and Undercliffe look set to mount a strong challenge next season having both finished in mid-table.

Thornton have responded well to their colourful coach Paul Gill by going up to Division Four in second place and Wyke A and Wibsey Warriors showed their promise by finishing the Division Six season in mid-table.