Shaw Cross Sharks 35 Blackbrook 16 PLAYING three Conference League first division games within seven days certainly had its price for Blackbrook.

They started the game at Shaw Cross without the services of seven regular squad members, then at various times throughout the game other players picked up injuries.

The clever ball handling skills of former Great Britain scrum-half Deryck Fox were evident from the start in the homesters line up, and centre Andy Gallant latched on to a long pass out wide from his colleague to touch down in the corner after just eight minutes.

Four minutes later however, Blackbrook were in the lead. Several players linked up effectively in a crisp handling movement on the visitors left before the direction of the attack was switched to the opposite flank. Second row man Steve Molyneux was up in support to send full back Darren Mitchell clear on a 25 metre run to the line. Andy Benson converted.

Shaw Cross edged into an 8-6 lead midway through the first half when loose forward Brett Patterson took advantage of some woeful defence to score near the corner.

But Blackbrook's response was immediate, and Darren Mitchell regained the initiative for the visitors at 10-12 with a 45-metre solo effort near the corner.

With barely four minutes of the first half remaining, scrum half Deryck Fox tested the visitors defence with a diagonal bomb across to the corner and winger Richard Patnelli punished a hesitant defence by quickly regaining possession for the Sharks and the supporting Fox edged them into a 12-10 interval lead with an unconverted try.

Shaw Cross then hit a purple patch with tries in the 47th and 53rd minutes to put the game safely out of the visitors reach - with scrum half Fox playing a key role in both tries.

Full back Craig Scargill edged Shaw Cross into a 23-10 lead with a drop goal on 70 minutes.

But Blackbrook were back in contention five minutes later with a 45 metre solo try by Steve Turner and a superb touchline conversion from Andy Benson.

But as injuries and fatigue took its toll the Sharks added two converted tries.

Darren Mitchell was the Blackbrook/Construction Power Services man of the match. Ince St Williams under 16s 16 Blackbrook Royals 17

Mike Platt, Liam Williams and John Clough scored Royals tries with Mark Gibson and Warren Taylor landed goals and Williams getting the all important drop goal.

Philip Anderton was the man of the match.

Royals under 14s 22 Crosfields 18

Ian Gwilliam, David Gwilliam, Danny Bibby and man of the match James Roby got the tries, with Paul Crook landing three goals.

Royals under 13s 18 Waterhead 8

Debutant Phil McSpirit scored two tries as did BICC Components man of the match Dane Shepherd, with Philip Platt landing a conversion. Joey Dixon took the Mike Barker top tackler award. Haydock under 12s nil Royals 30

Franco's man of the match Scott Holland, Chris Brown, Paul Johnson, Paul Clough, Mat Gartside and Martyn Bradshaw all got on the scoresheet.

Royals under 11s 36 Leigh East Hawks 6

Man of the match Kurt Haggerty led the way with a storming hat-trick, while top tackler Will Abbott (2), Dan Fairhurst, Bobbie Littler, Ashley Butler, James McNally and Keiron Edwards all scored.

Haydock under 10s 6 Royals 36

Man of the match Gary Wheeler (4), Jamie Foster (2), Shaun Magennis (2) and Chris Howell scored Royals' tries with Ian Marron, Chris McGrath, Beth Stott, Andrew Donavon and Andrew Bushell also impressing.

Ince St Williams under

nines nil Royals 30

Tries: Greg MacDonald (2), Robert Murphy (2), Luke Davies, Liam Taylor and Thomas Johnson.

Royals under eights 24 Portico nil

Chris Ford, Alex Holland, Liam Holland and Stephen Taylor got Royals tries. Nathan Goodwin was man of the match, Daniel Craven top tackler and Jordan Kilbride the coaches award winner.

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