BLACKPOOL Scorpions got off to a flyer in their Rugby League clash against Middleton Rhinos when Craig Campbell finished off a planned move from a scrum to score near the posts after two minutes.

Ten minutes later Campbell scored his second and both tries were converted by Campbell, making it 12-0. The Rhinos hit back with a converted try but Neil Gavaghan's astute passes put Paul Gray and Craig Campbell over for two more converted tries, giving the Scorpions a 24-6 lead.

Sloppy defence allowed the Rhinos to go over under the posts, but just before half-time Simon Pritchard's crossfield run and put winger Paul McAllister in for a try. Campbell converted to give the Scorpions a half-time lead of 30-12.

Scorpions then relaxed and their play became sloppy which spurred on the Rhinos and they scored another try after pressuring the Blackpool line.

Danny Padgett settled the Scorpions down when he charged over for a try. Scrum half Paul Atkinson, the smallest player on the field, shrugged off tackles from two big forwards and raced 30 yards for a great solo try.

However, sloppy defence allowed the Rhinos to score another try.

Mark Chapman went down the blind side of a scrum and raced from half-way to score under the posts.

Campbell finished off the scoring near the end and he also kicked eight goals for a total of 32 points as the Scorpions won 52-20.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.