Pilkington Recs 26 Roose Pioneers 12

RECS showed a vast improvement on recent displays with a spirited all-round performance.

The home side got off to a great start when veteran scrum-half John Smith and full-back Alan Fletcher combined to put Keiron Lacey in for a try out wide. Fletcher added the conversion.

Roose then put the home line under siege and after four consecutive sets of six tackles, visiting centre Andy McClooney crossed for the first of his three tries.

Fletcher added a penalty for Recs on 15 minutes and then quick-thinking hooker Andy Fairhurst intercepted to race 45 metres for a welcome try. But Roose hit back with a second try by the strong-running McClurey.

Unlike previous recent weeks, however, Recs' defence was resolute and they held firm for a 12-8 half-time lead, thanks largely to the efforts of Andy Kilmurray, Graham Cranney, Neil Morris and Lacey.

Strong defence was also decisive in the opening exchanges of the second half and ultimately was the major contributor to Recs' victory.

With virtually their first attack of the second half, following good work from John Rees, centre Andy Traverse powered through to register his first try of the season and Fletcher hit a vital conversion from wide out.

And midway through the half the wily Smith sent Fletcher away with a deft pass and the full-back in turn fed Traverse, whose strength saw him plunge through for his second try again golaed by Fletcher.

Roose threatened briefly when McClooney scored his third try from a spilled bomb but Fletcher completed the scoring with a penalty goal five minutes from time.

Prop Graham Cranney took the St Helens Roofing man-of-the-match award, while back-row partner Neil Morris earned the Mike Wilson, Painter and Decorator award. Alan Fletcher pushed them close, while Shaun Allen, Rees, Kilmurray, Lacey and Smith all had big games.