Only Wibsey Warriors survived a Premier Division cull as lower-ranked clubs took command of the opening round of the JACK SENIOR MEMORIAL BRADFORD CUP.

Division One pace-setters Bank Top Harriers were 22-16 ahead at home to West Bowling when the game had to be abandoned due to a serious ankle injury to centre Craig French.

Bowling took the lead with a try from full back Dominic Hadfield, converted by Lee Innes, before the Harriers hit back.

But West’s still managed to turn round 12-10 in front with another converted effort from scrum half Ben Heald.

Bank Top then turned on the gas, with stand-off Adam Mitchell bossing events. He finished with two tries and three goals, with other touchdowns coming from the left-flank partnership of wingman Mike Hustler and centre Jason Gelder.

Hadfield posted his second try before the match was called off after an hour. So out will come the rule book when the Bradford League management committee convenes to discuss the aftermath tomorrow night.

Birkenshaw produced a shock by seeing off visiting Clayton 23-22 in another thriller that went all the way to the wire.

Birky established an early 10-0 advantage following touchdowns from three-quarters duo Damian Smith and Alan Binns, one of which was converted by Matt Gowland.

Clayton replied in kind with tries by Simon Giles, Sam Godchild and Johnny Waddington, together with two goals from Danny Giles, to change ends 16-10 up.

Packman Graham Truman made it all square with a well-worked move but once again the visitors tiptoed in front with a Scott Pendlebury special.

Karl Robinson then marked his return from a broken foot with the crucial Birkenshaw equaliser that tied the match at 22-22.

After several attempts at a field goal, it was Birky’s man of the match Liam Darville who came up trumps with the one-point winner with just five minutes left on the clock.

Wyke joined the giant-killers with a 15-12 home win over Queensbury but Division Two colleagues Odsal Sedbergh went down 38-12 at Wibsey Warriors, although with their heads held high.

The Warriors ran in early points to kill off the game but struggled to get out of first gear in the second half and generally lacked fluency throughout the latter stages, mainly due to some stiff resistance from the ‘Sedge’.

Nick Fontaine and Nick Walker grabbed a brace apiece for the home side, with further scores coming from Steve Redman, Phil Brain and Ryan Smith. Andy Robinson and Harry Hall shared the kicking duties.

There was also action in the PENNINE LEAGUE, where West Bowling A lost 38-18 at home to Illingworth in Division Two.

Paul Hutchinson, Matt Sharp and Phil Munro crossed for basement side Bowling, with Joe Ollerenshaw kicking three goals.

Queensbury A made hard work of beating lowly Whitworth Spartans in Division Five, emerging narrow 10-7 winners.

The leaders could only manage two tries, a typically barnstorming effort from centre Darren Brown and a further score from loose forward Matty Lee-Haigh.

Best players on the day for Queensbury were Gareth Crowther and Kristian Freibach.