Wyke 6, Birkenshaw 16

 Artful dodger scrum half Andy Hirst was the match-winner as Birkenshaw came out on top in the Division One derby at Towngate.

Birky had first use of the slope and set up camp in the home red zone.

Wyke had to pull out all the stops to bundle wingman Mick Appleyard into touch at the corner and then wrestled second-rower Paul Bancroft to the ground to prevent him touching down under the posts.

They broke free to gain a foothold in enemy territory and visiting full back Richard Rhodes was forced to kick the ball dead in goal to deny wingman Trevor West from pouncing at the flag.

Hirst at last broke the deadlock with a grubber behind the line, leaving Appleyard the simple task of dropping on the ball for hooker Matt Honeysett to convert.

Birky increased the lead in fine style when centre Andy Seager hit his straps to break through three tackles to race under the uprights.

Honeysett added the simple conversion to establish a 10-0 lead but had to withstand a late rally from the black and whites, who had a touchdown from West ruled out for offside.

Wyke conceded a raft of penalties for head-high tackles on the restart, which was more due to bad technique than malicious intent.

However, referee Jim Whalley sent centre Alan Binns to the sin bin.

The loss proved fatal to the hosts’ chances of a first win of the season as the wily Hirst jinked through the defence to dive over and then added the extras himself.

Prop Darren Barraclough boosted the home resolve with a series of powerhouse runs and, when Binns returned from his enforced exile, he collected an offload from packman Steve Richardson to cross.

Mick Wormald converted to put the hosts back in contention at 16-6.

Their hopes bit the dust when centre Mark Frith gave the referee the benefit of his advice and was promptly shown a red card.

Birky were in no mood to surrender their advantage and were very unlucky to be denied when the industrious Bancroft was held up over the line by four defenders.