West Hull won the final game of the 2026 domestic season and lifted the BARLA National Cup with a lightning start that left Ince Rose Bridge floundering.
The tone was set in the first couple of minutes when Peter Valentine spilled a ball at the back for Ince and West Hull took advantage with Eligh Wilkinson finishing some smart wide play at the corner. Jack Sanderson hit the posts with his conversion attempt but it was 4-0 after three minutes.
Just four minutes later outstanding loose forward Josh Oliver forced his way over from close range and this time Sanderson added the goal. It was slick and confident from West Hull, who added their third try with Elliot Jones and Jack Potter pulling the strings for Wilkinson's second and by end of the first quarter, West Hull led 24-0 having scored further quick-fire tries by Jones and Oscar Ellerington who charged through a big hole in the defence for Potter to goal.
Finally Ince Rose Bridge found their place in the game and began asking questions. West Hull did well to hold Boyd Wilson up before Kieron Eccleston landed a pin-point hick in the arms of Callum Hughes for the winger to touch down after 26 minutes. Eccleston goaled before Hughes was held up again in the 32nd minute.
The two sides fashioned chances in the closing stages of the first half with Kieron Masike just tackled in touch for West Hull while scrambling defence denied Casey Shaw at the other end.
West Hull led 24-6 at half-time but Ince Rose Bridge roared out of the blocks at the start of the second half with a strong finish in the right corner from Hughes who escaped the clutches of Wilkinson initially, before spinning past two more defenders.
Two tries in seven minutes tipped the scales back in West Hull's favour with Wilkinson collecting a kick for his hat-trick score before Oliver added his second under the posts. Two more goals from Potter nudged the score out to 36-10.
Ince Rose Bridge have enjoyed a brilliant season, winning the NCRL National Leagues Cross Conference Championship in the process, and never stopped attacking with Jack Morrison, Kallem Rodgers and Matty Gaskell doing well before some brilliant football skills brought a try for Mason Fillingham on the hour.
Eccleston added his second goal, but a late flourish from West Hull saw Wilkinson claim an outstanding five-try haul to take the Man-of-the-Match award. Potter unselfishly fed him for his fourth, adding the last of his three goals before the best of the Wilkinson quintet came in the 73rd minute as he weaved and spun back in field to beat three players to the line to bring up West Hull's 9th try and confirm their name on the trophy once again.
Full-time: West Hull 44 Ince Rose Bridge 16
West Hull: Jack Potter, Kieron Masike, Tom Verity, Jack Sanderson, Eligh Wilkinson; Jack Lazenby, Elliott Jones; Benn Arbon, Sonny Cooper, Corey Priestman, Harry Hutchindon, Kian Goodhand, Josh Oliver. Subs: Josh Wood, Ryan Langton, Oscar Ellerington, Robbie Jones
Tries: Wilkinson (3, 14, 49, 68, 73), Oliver (7, 56), Jones (18), Ellerington (20)
Goals: Sanderson 1/4, Potter 3/5
Ince Rose Bridge: Peter Valentine, Gareth Jones, Kyle Malone, Lucas Coan, Callum Hughes; Kieron Eccleston, Mason Fillingham; Reece Cunningham, Ellis Steinberg, Ellis Tindall, Casey Shaw, Lee Jones, Matty Gaskell. Subs: Jack Morrison, Kallem Rodgers, Callum Wilson, Boyd Wilson
Tries: Hughes (26, 42), Fillingham (60)
Goals: Eccleston 2/3
By Dave Parkinson
Photo Credit: 13 Pro-Am Community RL
