West Bowling A beat the weather and, more importantly, near neighbours Illingworth in a cracking Pennine League First Division West match at Bankfoot Oval.

In a game of two halves, Bowling’s blistering start turned out to be crucial to securing a 24-12 victory.

Prop Ben Kelly was the first to cross when he took a neat pass and barged his way over. That was soon followed by Michael Hutch-inson’s fine effort as the winger extended the lead.

Bowling were really flying when barnstorming forward Phil Chappell broke the line before finding Richard Lumb in support, the centre racing 60 yards to the posts.

At half-time Bowling were cruising at 18-0 and the second half started equally well for the home side.

Hooker Ian Wormald took the acting-half role, threw an outrageous dummy that fooled the Illingworth defence and strolled in under the posts.

But if Bowling thought the game was going to be a walkover, the Halifax side had other ideas.

Illingworth responded quickly when they attacked Bowling’s right flank and created the space for Ross Holmes to side-step his way over next to the posts, the successful conversion cutting the deficit to 24-6.

Just a minute later Illingworth were on the attack again and only desperate defending by centre Martin Tordoff prevented a further score.

Bowling’s defence had to muscle up once more when the weight of four tacklers was needed to bundle Holmes into touch.

The home side continued to battle hard, with forwards Chappell and Lee Hutchinson getting through a mountain of work, but Illingworth managed to narrow the gap when Wayne Kendall collected a kick and raced three quarters the length of the field, evading several attempted tackles, to score.

However, it was too little too late with the influential Wormald and kicker Joe Ollernshaw’s four goals ultimately proving to be the major difference.

In the Jack Senior Memorial Cup first round, Wibsey Warriors ran out 70-0 winners over Victoria Rangers, leaving Vics wishing the big thaw had come a little later.

Scorers were Phil Brain, Ryan Smith, Andy Robinson (with braces), Nick Walker, Neil Sutcliffe, Scott Smith, Carl Walker, CJ Vogel, Mike Derrick and Charles Marsh. Robinson also kicked ten goals.

Wibsey now enter the draw for round two, where they await the results of rearranged fixtures between Birkenshaw and Bank Top Harriers, Queensbury and Clayton and Dudley Hill and Odsal Sedbergh.