WEST BOWLING 16 WEST HULL 20
DAVE BROOK, Horsfall Community Stadium, Saturday
A TRY by Tom Verity in the closing seconds, when the visitors opted for the short side rather than centrefield, steered West Hull through to their second National Conference League Grand Final in the last three years.
This was a pulsating clash in which fortunes fluctuated throughout.
West, who had finished third, behind West Bowling on points difference, had prevailed 36-22 at home in the league, while Bowling had edged matters 28-26 in Bradford.
The home side, who have never featured in a Grand Final, had pushed Minor Premiers Siddal – who West Hull will meet in Saturday’s decider at Featherstone Rovers – much harder than their 26-0 defeat would suggest, a sending-off and two sinbinnings being pivotal to the outcome.
Bowling, who had a second bite of the cherry by dint of having finished second in the league, gave referee Ollie Salmon no cause to brandish cards on this occasion, but three penalty-goals by West Hull’s Eligh Wilkinson were nevertheless crucial to the result.
Harry Williams – also with a penalty-goal – nosed Bowling in front on 15 minutes, but Wilkinson nipped over three minutes later to put the visitors in front.
A Wilkinson penalty-goal on the stroke of half-time secured a 6-2 interval lead, which was stretched to 8-2 five minutes after the restart through another Wilkinson two-pointer.
Bowling bounced back with tries on 50 and 55 minutes by, respectively, Matt Bailey and Archie Halmshaw, Williams’ conversions forging a 14-8 advantage.
West Hull, however, with Josh Oliver outstanding, responded as Elliott Jones darting in on the hour and Wilkinson added the levelling extras.
A Wilkinson penalty-goal seven minutes later was cancelled out when Williams was also on target from the tee with eight minutes remaining.
But thoughts of extra time were ruled out by Verity’s sensational winner.
WEST BOWLING
1 Alix Stephenson
18 Lewis Camden
4 Logan Simpson
3 Elliot Cousins
5 Lewis Taylor
6 Liam Darville
7 Harry Williams
8 Ellis Dobson
9 Danny Halmshaw
10 Chris Anderson
11 Josh Lynam
12 Lewis Magson
13 Oli Bartle
Subs
14 Archie Halmshaw
16 Matt Bailey
17 Lewis Galtress
19 Richard Lumb
Tries: Bailey (50), A Halmshaw (55)
Goals: H Williams 4/4
WEST HULL
1 Jack Lazenby
2 Keiran Masike
3 Tom Verity
4 Leon Stewart
5 Eligh Wilkinson
6 Josh Wood
7 Elliott Jones
8 Jordan Baker
16 Jacob Moore
20 Ryan Wilson
11 Jack Watts
12 Benn Arbon
13 Josh Oliver
Subs
10 Josh Jarvis
14 Louis Crowther
15 Ryan Langton
17 Charlie Beet
Tries: Wilkinson (18), Jones (60), Verity (80)
Goals: Wilkinson 4/6
SCORING SEQUENCE: 2-0, 2-4, 2-6; 2-8, 8-8, 14-4, 14-14, 14-16, 16-16, 16-20
Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Bowling: Oli Bartle; Hull: Josh Oliver
Half-time: 2-6
Referee: Ollie Salmon