THE Bears struggled to cope with the very wet and muddy conditions against a well-organised Thatto Heath team.

Shaun Mannion played a superb game both with the ball and in defence to win the NBS Sports man of the match award.

With a fantastic defensive display, Callum Parkinson led the tackle count and won the NBS Sports top tackler award.

James Bamford consistently tackled well above his weight and took the NBS Sports coach's award.

The Bears' tries were scored by George Galligan (2) and Callum Brizell.

Any Year 3, boys and girls, who are interested in training and playing with the Bears U8s, please call Ruth on 07837-053972.

West Bank Bears U'9s Blacks 32 Shevington Sharks U9s 24

THE young Bears made it four wins on the trot with a hugely encouraging performance against highflying Shevington.

The Bank got off to a blistering start with a training ground move that saw Daniel Rose, Paddy Douglas and Sam Walker drive the ball deep into the Sharks' half before Tom Dempsey drew the defence and floated an enticing pass for Jack Philips to run onto wide out.

Dempsey performed the same trick to feed George Nuttall before Daniel Rose powered over and Nuttall completed the scoring for the Bears before half time.

Although visibly rocked by West Bank's confident play Shevington had used their big forwards to keep the scoreboard ticking over and left the half time score 5-4 to the Bears.

Terrific tackling from Mike Kelly, Jack Filkins and Callum Cearns repeatedly stopped the Sharks' rushes.

With Shevington able to call on a never ending supply of strong driving forwards, it looked for all the world that the smaller Bears would wilt in the second half, however, the big crowd were in for a treat as the tackling became even more intense, with Phillips, Kelly and Jack Jopson to the fore, restricting the visitors to two further scores.

Mike Kelly scooted over early on before Nuttall completed a brilliant hat trick.

Jack Bond saved two certain tries with timely interceptions, which he was within a whisker of turning into tries.

With time running out Dempsey ghosted through one more time to round off a superb all round display.

The hardest work of the day fell to the coaches to decide on the individual awards.

Tom Dempsey was awarded the mom while Jack Phillips and Paddy Douglas were joint top tacklers with George Nuttall and Daniel Rose sharing the coach's awards.

West Bank (Open Age) 15 Cadishead Rhinos 4

A BAD traffic accident delayed the arrival of the Bears for this NWC Bowl quarter final at Cadishead, but didn't prevent West Bank tearing into their higher placed opponents.

With Ste Butler and captain Chris Nuttie leading the forward drives up the severe slope the Bank took the lead through Ian Littler's scoot for the line.

Indiscipline from Cadishead and terrific goal line defence gave West Bank the opportunity to press home attack after attack but Danny Hale's penalty was the only further reward in the first half and with the Rhinos themselves getting across the whitewash the game was finely balanced 6-4 at half time.

Anthony Knight, Daz Jones, Ste Littler and Gavin Dick excelled in defence to keep the Rhinos out.

Several injuries disrupted the flow of the game but in Adam Mercer, Mark French and Micky Kelly, West Bank had plenty of go forward and midway through the half Andy McGee touched down a wickedly bouncing French kick.

Hale's conversion and another penalty took the game away from the Rhinos.

Desperate defence just foiled Paul Curphey's 50 metre burst while Jones, Nuttie and Nigel Flinn where inches from wrapping the game up.

Hale's one pointer concluded the scoring.

Subs Mike Lloyd and John Cuerdon proved welcome reinforcements later in the game.

West Bank man of the match was Daz Jones pushed closely by Mark French and Ste Butler.

The Bears' opponents in the semi final are Langworthy Reds.

The match takes place at Widnes Recreation Club this Saturday at 2.30pm.

With West Bank having beaten two division four teams en route to the semi, this game will give a good pointer to next season's chances, with the Reds having been crowned champions of division five.