February 16, 2002

by Steve Coulter

WATH Brow Hornets virtuosity flourished in a framework of cohesion as Bradford side West Bowling were shot-down 24-12 in the third round of the GMB Union BARLA National Cup.

It was energy-sapping stuff, high-octane yet fretful. Rugby League played at 100 miles-an-hour by two hugely talented teams.

The Bradford side doggedly refused to wilt under a tremendous Hornets onslaught and forced the Cumbrian champions to work hard for their win.

There were some impressive Brow performances, half-backs Andrew Hocking and Carl Rudd eventually took control of midfield with mature authority, while back-rowers Paul Davidson and Mark Troughton kept the Hornets forwards rolling forward.

Curwen gave a typically brave and assured performance at the back for Hornets, while Scott Teare, Neil Stewart, Jonty Moore and Gary Todd led the defensive effort.

The experience of Ian Rooney and Lee Power was as important to the outcome as the input of wingers Gary Clark and Andrew Stables.

However, Hornets got off to the worst possible start when the National Conference Division Two leaders opened the scoring after eight minutes. Some bright handling by the visitors carried the ball downfield in a sweeping movement and winger Martin Tordoff displayed his finishing power to touch down in the corner. Lee Innes landed the touchline conversion.

Unruffled, Hornets stuck to task in hand and produced some strong running and solid defence in an often rugged and spirited affair, before West Bowling were penalised on 16 minutes by referee David McGarry for offside. Curwen cooley slotted over the kick and repeated the feat after 34 minutes when the visitors were caught stripping the ball.

Play moved from end to end with neither side able to unlock stubborn defence and with the clock showing forty minutes played, Curwen was given the opportunity to tie the scores with another penalty, awarded for lying on. The full-back duly obliged and the teams changed ends level at 6-all.

A minute into the second period and Hornets found themselves behind again to a second strike from Tordoff. A short kick through was gathered by West Bowling and the winger latched onto a perfectly placed grubber-kick to score in the corner.

Hornets continued playing some nice football and finally found their rhythm on 52 minutes when Teare broke loose down the centre, Gary Elliot carried on the attack and a quick offload released David Currie to dive in at the corner. Curwen added the touchline conversion.

The visitors fluffed an opportunity to draw level two minutes later when Innes missed a penalty, awarded when Hornets were adjudged to have stolen the ball. But made ammends shortly afterwards when the home side were again penalised, this time for a play-the-ball infringement.

Entering the final quarter of the game Hornets began to assert themselves and a searing 60 metres break from Clark took him to within striking distance of the visitors line before being grounded. A quick play-the-ball was moved wide to Power, who nicely turned the ball inside for the destructive Teare to smash his way over the try.

On 72 minutes it was all over, courtesy of a magnificently executed touchdown worthy of winning any match.

The deceptively clever Hocking received the ball from acting half-back, stepped right, hesitated and feinted right again. He fooled two West Bowling defenders (and one of his own players) before accelerating away, selling an outrageous double dummy to a bemused full-back and score under the posts.

Hornets were now in total command and six minutes later Teare broke the line again, Neil Gregg took the pass and advanced the position directly in front of the posts and when the ball was fed back, hero of the hour Hocking delightfully landed his trademark drop-goal.

Moments later the scenario was repeated with Mark Troughton making the intial break for Curwen to emulate Hocking's earlier one-pointer.

ELLENBOROUGH Rangers held their nerve to repel a spirited second-half fightback by Egremont Rangers to record a 26-18 victory.

Tight discipline and rigid cohesion had seen the home side race into a sixteen points lead inside the first 18 minutes, but their pattern became loose and vulnerable after the break and Egremont took full advantage to bustle their way back into the game.

Ellenborough played with confidence in the first forty-minutes, led magnificently yet again by stand-off-half Eddie Robinson, who gave the hosts the best possible start with an early try and followed in quick succession by touchdowns from loose-forward Jason Moore and centre Peter Atherton.

Egremont momentarily hit back through a Paul Telford try, goaled by Great Britain Under-21 International Darren Block, but Ellenborough restored their advantage through two Paul McGee goals and a further try from winger Reg Goodwin.

Indecision littered Ellenborough's defending after the break and lapses of concentration were quickly punished by a revitalised Egremont outfit.

A second try from Telford and a super strike from Andrew Little, plus two goals from the boot of Block, very nearly completed the perfect comeback for the Gilfoot Park side, before a try and penalty from McGee sealed the points.

TWELVE-MAN Seaton Rangers completely destroyed a decidedly off-colour Glasson Rangers 44-9 after suffering an early set-back when influential prop Mike Melville was dismissed.

Glasson's prospects of reversing their 22-26 defeat at Seaton back in October looked promising when a Steve Maguire penalty and an opportunist field-goal from Mark Smith eased them into to a 3-0 lead.

Even when Seaton full-back Mark Taylor snatched back the lead with a try improved by Duncan Moyle, their was little to suggest how the game would eventually unfold. Indeed Glasson had enough in reserve to go in front again with a try from James Moore.

However, that was it as far as Glasson's attacking efforts were concerned. The rest of their exertions were concentrated on trying to keeping Seaton at bay.

Speedster Martin Wilson ran in the first of a three try haul before the break, and with Moyle adding the goal, Seaton took a slender 12-9 lead into the half-time recess.

Glasson appeared to be playing without confidence in their own ability from the restart and as a result, everything seemed to go wrong. They squandered possession on countless occasions, kicked out on the full more than once and seemingly lacked direction.

Wilson, launching a one-man war against the Netherhall based club completed his hat-trick and was followed over the line at regular intervals by former Workington Town and Whitehaven favourite Colin Armstrong, substitutes Ben Steele and Craig Armstrong and Paul West. Moyle added four more goals to complete Glasson's misery.

FIVE Dean Laverick goals proved decisive to Hensingham's 26-20 victory over St. Nicholas.

The Carlisle-based side outscored their hosts by five tries to four and only their inability to add a single goal prevented them recording one of the biggest upsets of the season.

The game began brightly for the home side when they took the lead after four minutes through winger Ryan Douglas. Laverick converted.

Nichs showing enthusiasm and invention hit back through promising teenage winger Carl Higgins, who crossed wide out on the left.

Both sides were playing adventurous, imaginative football, without carving a clear cut chance until inside-back Lee Shilton stepped through on the 28 minute mark. Again Laverick obliged with the conversion.

Hensingham maintained the pressure and were rewarded again three minutes before the break when centre Glyn Hyslop breached the Saints line, for Laverick to add the extras. But the visitors immediately replied and Peter Grealish hauled the scores back to 18-8 on the stroke of half-time.

Following their natural instinct to get forward, Nichs fought back to close the gap with tries from Mike Marsden and Craig Stalker in the 45th and 53rd minutes.

Back-rower Stuart Miller stormed over after 73 minutes to open-up a ten points lead, before Stalker had the final word for Saints with a try two minutes before the end.

WIGTON, at the thirteenth attempt finally put points on the League Ladder at the expense of injury ravaged Westfield.

Long spells of pressure from Graeme McKenzie's depleted side created nothing more than hope, while the second-half was largely one-way traffic in favour of the Barton Laws outfit.

Ahead 15-8 at the interval Wigton pressed home their advantage during the second forty minutes to emerge with an elusive 27-8 victory.

Centre Paul Southward topped-scored for the north-cumbrians with two tries and a goal, with winger Wayne Southward and hooker Ian French also crossing. Justin Bennett landed five goals, including a one pointer.

Josie Hewer replied with a touchdown for Westfield, while Mark Rooke added two goals.

Wigton secretary Ronnie Teasdale was buoyed by the first league win of the season. "It's been a long time coming, he said.

"But I always felt that we were going to do it today, especially when we led at half-time playing up the slope.

"The lads will be doing a bit of celebrating tonight and I might just join them."

LOWCA kept-up the pressure on Broughton Red Rose and Wath Brow 'A' at the top of Division Two with a comprehensive 50-6 victory over Distington at Grass Road.

Leading 18-6 at the interval, Lowca amassed nine tries with two apiece from prop Phil Anderson, scrum-half Lee Allen and Dean Finlay, while Carl Ennis, Paul Thompson and Graham Lowery also crossed. Lee Weighman landed 7 goals.

Distington's reply came through a try from sixteen-years-old scrum-half Craig Askew and a goal from loose-forward Ryan Worthington.

STEVE CAMERON took the plaudits for a stunning five try performance as Maryport eased back into action for the first time since mid-November.

Maryport could easily have doubled their nine try haul, but visitors Penrith rode their luck in a match they always looked second-best.

Cameron and centre partner Andrew Cartwright (try and 9 goals), had a field day, sharing forty-two of the 58 points racked-up.

Firmly in the driving seat 30-4 at the break, Maryport coasted home after the interval for an easy win.

Maryport's scoring was completed with tries from full-back Karl Birkett, winger Chris Gibson, prop Ian Ivison and Man-of-the-match John Pattinson.

Stuart Knubley and Craig Johnston replied with touchdowns for Penrith.

BROUGHTON Red Rose emerged from their enforced mid-season hibernation to take both points with a hard earned 24-12 victory against improving Flimby.

But there was never any suggestion that the 92-1 scoreline Broughton registered when the teams met earlier in the season would be repeated.

In fact Flimby looked the sharper outfit at first and built up a 8-6 half-time lead before Red Rose finally killed off a spirited effort in the closing stages.

Loose-forward Ian Tinnion claimed Flimby's try, while scrum-half Gary Hine, three, and substitute Wayne Dustin, one, shared the kicking duties.

Tim Taylor, Damien Ostle and substitute Paul Foster crossed for the visitors, with David Thurlow adding four goals.

Flimby spokesman John Hodgson said: "That represented our best performance of the season.

"We were still in with a shout at 18-12, and only a try in the final minute sealed the win for Broughton.

"We are beginning to come together as a unit and there were good performances all over the field today.

"Referee Peter Wharton let the game flow and it was a great match to watch.

"Coaches John Harrison and Ray Fidler are doing a great job and the progress being made augers well for the future."

SALTERBECK Storm left the Lions' Den pointless after Great Clifton staged a second-half comeback and overturn a 12-8 half-time deficit.

Clifton dominated the early stages, but lacked the penetration to add to their eye-catching approach work and it took a try from Bobby Smith with three minutes of the game remaining to snatch a dramatic victory.

Scrum-half Mark Walker and second-rower Mike Wright stood out as the home side put in a big effort.

Tries from wingers Paul Rossall and Mark Jones and another from centre John Gaston had looked in vain until Smith's late intervention. Stand-off Wayne Walker landed the Lions' only success in front of goal.

Andrew Fearon and Barry Goodwin crossed for Salterbeck, with coach Vince McNicholas adding three goals and Rob Carr landing one.

HENSINGHAM 'A' lifted the Youngers Scotch Bitter Alliance League title following a comfortable 18-8 victory against Egremont Rangers 'A' at Gilfoot Park on Friday night.

Egremont, fielding a pack with an average age just the right side of forty, made the visitors work hard for an hour. But tired legs gave way to their youthful counterparts during the last quarter.

The Richmond side, undefeated with nine straight wins took the lead after fifteen minutes through Mark Nicholls. Man-of-the-match Dean Laverick threaded his way through the home defence and when Kris Coward slipped a superb pass, the winger hurtled over for an unimproved score.

Warren Stainton cut the deficit to two points with a penalty, but Hensingham restored their advantage with a magnificent try on the half-hour. A break from Andrew Pattinson, and a neat inside-ball to Neil Starkey saw the Hensingham flyer race from just inside Egremont territory to side-step the home full-back and score between the posts. Laverick's conversion gave the visitors an eight point cushion at the break.

Ten minutes into the second period and Egremont were back in contention again after a swift surge down the hill brought a try from veteran campaigner Dave Richardson. Stainton's goal pegged the score back to 8-10.

Egremont worked hard, but on the night didn't have the luck or strike power to turn a solid performance into a winning one.

Hensingham's grins widened as the game entered the final fifteen minutes and substitute Gavin Birkett bustled over in the corner and moments later Craig McAvoy followed a perfect Laverick chip through to outpace the Rangers defence and set off the championship celebrations.

KELLS 'A look likely to occupy the runners-up spot in the Alliance for the second successive season. But they displayed championship style football in a 51-4 victory over match rusty Seaton Rangers 'A'.

Scrum-half Simon Brannon took the individual honours with a try and eight goals, while there was impressive two try performances from winger Anthony Crosbie and teenage centre Scott Lofthouse.

Loose-forward Steve Mattinson gave an indication of things to come when he crossed after 12 minutes from a telling 60 metres surge by hooker David Agnew.

Crosbie added tries in the 29th and 39th minutes, the first created by Lofthouse, and the second from a cross-kick by Brannon on last tackle.

Sandwiched in between was a thrilling touchdown by Lofthouse, engineered by Brannon after a 50 metres break.

The second-half produced a further five tries for Kells, Ian Brannon (43), Mark Kirkbride (54) and Chris Brannon (59), before a lightening-strike by Lofthouse rounded things off when he raced 80 metres directly from a scrum.

Seaton had put points on the board in th 69th minute through Chris Blamire, after Tony Roper had gained ground and from a set-play Ben Nixon created the opening for the young centre.

GLASSON Rangers 'A' picked-up two welcome points in a keenly fought Alliance clash against St. Nicholas 'A' at Gillfoot Park.

The heavy conditions dictated a forward battle and it was always close with only two points separating the sides at the end of eighty minutes.

Former Workington Town prop Gary Nixon led by example and tries from Mark McGlasson, Gary Thwaites and Graham Thompson, plus goals from Dean Scholey, two, and Stuart Courtier proved sufficient to collect the win.

Props Adrian Bell and Mark Blaylock, and winger Shaun Tiffen grabbed tries for the Saints, while scrum-half Keith Shaw booted over two goals.