Bradford & Bingley 50, Altrincham Kersal 0

Grant Litt may not have got on the scoresheet but Bradford & Bingley gave the popular Kiwi a splendid send-off on Saturday in sweltering conditions.

The 28-year-old former Skipton player, who has announced his retirement from rugby, goes to the Australian Gold Coast next weekend to resume his career as a miner.

Litt joined the Bees after Christmas last season, thereby rejoining Martin Whitcombe, his former coach at Sandylands.

The New Zealander said: “I have really enjoyed my time here. The boys might not quite be ready for promotion but there is no reason why we shouldn’t be right up there at the end of the season.

“The important thing is that there are plenty of young lads at the club coming through.”

Litt played at centre on Saturday but has also played at scrum half and fly half during his short spell at Wagon Lane.

“I don’t know what my best position is but I don’t mind as long as I am out there on the park.”

Litt, who cuts fish for Bizzie Lizzie’s fish and chip restaurants in Skipton, added: “The frustrating thing is that I have only been able to play every other weekend because of work, and this is definitely the end of my rugby career.”

Whitcombe said: “We really needed a five-point win and it could have been 60-0 or 70-0 – but we will settle for 50-0.”

Tries came from left winger Giles Hetherington (2), full back Ben Greaves, lock Richard Hughes, fly half Phil Greaves, replacement Aidan Scully, flanker Martyn Mitchell and right winger Gavin Stead, who also kicked five conversions.

Whitcombe added: “Giles was our main attacking threat because he has pace and it is like having a second full back. And it was worth paying the admission money to see Phil’s interception try.

“We know we are not the finished article but we are heading in the right direction.”

Bottom-of-the-table Altrin-cham Kersal had conceded 136 points in their previous four games, of which they had won one, and rarely looked like scoring.

A huge kick ahead by Phil Greaves in the 12th minute set the Bees going, the ball bouncing backwards into the hands of Hetherington to put supporting full back Ben Greaves over.

Hetherington’s footwork at speed was too much for the Cheshire visitors and he increased the lead in the 24th minute. Hughes’ try in first-half injury time was popular with the Wagon Lane faithful.

Phil Greaves’ interception try seven minutes from half-time – a basketball player would have been proud of the way he plucked the ball out of the air – sealed the try bonus point. Hethering-ton’s interception try seven minutes later made up for the two the Bees have given away recently.

Skipper Guy Ford initiated Scully’s touchdown in the 56th minute and by the time veteran Phil Greaves’ bolt had been well and truly shot, the Bees added late tries by Martyn Mitchell and Stead.

The Bees are only four points from the bottom but only four points off third place.