West Bowling 18 Thatto Heath 18 DESPITE scoring four tries to two, Crusaders were unable to take both points from this second versus third place National Conference Division One game, largely due to ill-discipline displayed throughout the game.

Heath started well with a fine 40-20 from scrum-half Barry Ashall pinning the Bradford side in their own quarter but were unable to capitalise upon this early pressure.

West Bowling opened the scoring when centre Lee Innes slotted over a 40 yard two pointer following a penalty for lying on in the tackle plus a further ten yards for back-chat put Innes within kicking range.

Five minutes later another penalty this time for interference at the play the ball, gave Innes a much easier shot at goal, which he gratefully accepted.

A well worked try on 20 minutes took Bowling further ahead as scrum-half Steve Illingworth slid over five yards to the left of the posts following good work by prop Phil Chappel. Innes converted to make the score 10-0.

Crusaders began to pile on the pressure and Ashall was held up over the line following a quick tap by the cheeky half-back. From the resultant scrum Heath registered their first points for the day following good work by stand-off Chris Honey who put hooker Darren Mitchell through the gap to power his way over under the posts giving full back Andy Benson an easy conversion.

Four minutes before half time, Heath pressed down the right-hand wing but the Bowling left winger halted this attack and rightly found himself 'in the bin' for holding down with the line beckoning. Half time score 10-6.

Four minutes after the restart, following good yards down the middle of the park by Benson and Mitchell, Ashall took the ball left and found wingman Mike Woods with a perfectly lofted pass, and he raced 30 yards to dive over in the corner. The conversion attempt went wide.

Minutes later Crusaders centre, Anthony marsh, was shown the yellow card for holding down and a further penalty from this tap, again for holding down, gave Innes another two points to his tally from 40 yards out.

On 55 minutes, Bowling were set for a drop goal attempt on the last tackle, however, Heath's quick defence cut down this option but a long ball to the right released Innes to dive over in the corner.

As Marsh returned from the bin, second row Dave Lloyd replaced him following a yellow for a professional foul at a tap penalty.

The game had now hit a stale-mate with both defences holding out until the 74th minute. Loose forward Darren Harris elected to run the ball on the last tackle from the centre of the park and took play left.

He found Woods on the wing who drew the full-back and returned the ball to Harris who then fed Marsh to carry the cover over the line with him to score an excellent try. The referee ruled that the conversion had gone wide leaving the score 16-14.

Two minutes later, Innes extended Bowling's lead by two as Heath were unlucky to concede a penalty for offside following a drop-goal attempt charge down found a defender unwittingly in an off-side position.

Heath would not lie down and a last ditch attempt, in injury time, saw Woods diving in at the corner for his second after Marsh had drawn the cover to release him. Benson's conversion attempt to clinch victory just went wide and Heath had to be happy with just the one point.

The Crusaders man of the match was Darren Mitchell with centre Lee Gannon also impressing in a much improved team performance from the week previous.