Shaun Mitchell grabbed a hat trick of tries as St Joseph’s booked their place in the Holliday Cup final with a hard-fought 20-10 home triumph over Emley Moor.

In the end, the experience of playing at the higher Pennine League level – Joe’s are in the Championship and Moor are in Division IV – proved decisive.

But the home side were made to battle all the way by their never-say-die visitors, with the conditions proving a real leveller. Dropped ball throughout the game meant an open flowing game was a non-starter.

Joe’s did open the game brightly, taking the lead after just two minutes as stand-off George Stott put a pin-point kick through for centre Mitchell to collect and score.

Winger Nick Mitchell added the conversion, but was unable to land his second 14 minutes later following an action replay of the first try as another kick from Stott put Mitchell over again.

Moor, however, refused to give up the fight and hit back with a converted try of their own to make it 10-6 at the break.

Emley started the second half as they had finished the first and deservedly levelled the scores, and with 20 minutes remaining the game could have gone either way.

It was then that the hosts began to make that higher-level experience count by taking control of possession and field position to cross for two quick and decisive tries.

Mitchell completed his hat-trick and Jason Oldfield crossed under the posts for a converted effort to take the game away from Moor.

The three tries helped Mitchell share the men-of-the-match awards with scrum-half Joe Bickerdyke and second-row forward Jordan Colgan.

On the Pennine League front, Meltham All Blacks maintained their Division VI West title push with a big 56-8 victory at bottom club King Cross Park A.

The All Blacks were full of confidence after last week’s win over leaders Victoria Rangers, but it was the hosts who struck first to knock Meltham out of their stride.

In fact, it took the visitors 15 minutes to open their account through Yank Farrell, and then the floodgates started to open.

By half-time, Roebuck, Richardson, Worrall and Quarmby had also scored to take Meltham 26-4 ahead.

And after the break, there were further tries from Field, Hindle, Quarmby, Carter, Richardson and Worrall, with Farrell finishing with six successful goals.

Matty Carter was named the Little Badger man-of-the-match.

RESULTS

Huddersfield ARL Holliday Cup: St Joseph’s 20 Emley Moor 10.

Pennine Presidents Cup: Newsome Panthers 8 Queens 33.

BARLA National Cup: Dewsbury Moor 6 Sharlston Rovers 14, Egremont Rangers 58 Keighley Albion 0, Illingworth 16 Upton 18, St Maries Vikings 16 Thornhill Trojans 4.

Bradford ARL Jack Senior Memorial Trophy: West Bowling 46 Wyke 20.

Halifax ARL Joseph Fee Memorial Trophy: Brighouse Rangers 28 King Cross Park 0.

Wakefield & District ARL Open Cup: Crigglestone All Blacks 6 Crofton Cougars 38, Ossett Trinity 10 CK Vikings 18.

Pennine League. Premier Division: Queensbury 16 Fryston Warriors 52.

Championship I Division: Allerton Bywater 18 New Earswick All Blacks 10, Batley Boys 12 Doncaster Toll Bar 28, Bentley Good Companions 0 Morley Borough 30, Odsal Sedbergh 40 Brotherton Bulldogs 8.

Division I: Lindley Swifts 30 Cutsyke Raiders 0, Sharlston Rovers A 4 Boothtown Terriers 22, Siddal 23 West Leeds 10, Victoria Rangers 14 Stainland Stags 16.

Division II: Hunslet Club Parkside 30 Greetland All Rounders 0, Wibsey Warriors 50 West Craven Warriors 26.

Division III: Clayton 24 Kinsley Raiders 0, Stanningley 26 Queensbury A 6, Woodhouse Warriors 78 Whinmoor Warriors 20.

Division IV: Dearne Valley Bulldogs 34 Wakefield City 8, Dewsbury Celtic 32 Wortley Dragons 10, Farnley Falcons 6 Sherburn Bears 22, Selby Warriors 30 West Bowling A 0.

Division V: Guiseley Rangers 8 Hanging Heaton 22, Moorends Thorne Marauders 62 Hollinwood 8, Ovenden 40 East Leeds 6.

Division VI East: Beeston Broncos 44 Ryhill Hammers 24, Doncaster Toll Bar A 26 Dewsbury Moor A 20, Leeds Underdogs 10 Halton Moor Storm 24.

Division VI West: Boothtown Terriers A 14 Worth Village 72, Cowling Harlequins 16 Victoria Rangers A 25, Greetland All Rounders A 0 Odsal Sedbergh A 30, King Cross Park A 8 Meltham All Blacks 56, Wyke A 12 Queensbury B 20.