ARL round-up

RECS saved probably their best performance of the season until the last league game.

They were first on the score sheet through a penalty from hooker Craig Burrows. But the visitors took the lead through a converted try, somewhat against the run of play.

A perfectly timed pass from Andy Kilmurray saw long striding second row man John Rees tearing through a gap, before his inside pass saw Burrows scooting under the posts to score. He also added the conversion.

Roose regained the lead on 20 minutes.

Persistent attacking from Recs saw them build up a useful advantage just before the interval. After Andy Crehan and Gaisone Del Farro went close to scoring, a great run from prop Graham Cranney set up the position for Burrows to plunge in for his second try from acting half-back. He again converted.

Two minutes from half-time following more Recs pressure saw an inside ball from scrum-half Johnny Smith put strong running Mike Dennett in beneath the posts. Burrows fourth goal gave the homesters a useful looking 20-10 half-time lead.

Inexplicably Recs began the second half very poorly and within four minutes saw the scoreline level at 20-20 through two quick scores from Roose. Both tries coming from home handling errors. Recs had to set about winning the game all over again. Following more good work from Leadbetter and Albin, a scrum win 30 metres from the try line, saw the ball whipped along the line before Andy Traverse put Del Farro in to score at the corner.

Midway through the half, Andy Traverse held off two defenders on his way to score. Burrows' touchline conversion restored Recs ten point lead.

Back came the visitors and a converted try by the left corner flag put them back in the contest.

In a tense finale Burrows stepped in to seal matters with the winning try.

Saddleworth A 50

Parr Hare

& Hounds 20

Hounds completed their season, after a five-week break, with a spirited performance against a strong Saddleworth outfit.

Fresh from a midweek away win over promoted Bold Miners, the home side must have expected to sweep away the relegation-bound visitors.

Hounds though refused to buckle and the final scoreline does scant justice to a battling display by the Parr Stocks Road outfit.

The losers' points came from tries by Neil Briers - a superb 70-yard interception - Barry Dearden and Phil Thompson, with four goals by Stuart Haycock. Also worthy of mention for Hounds were stand-off Ste Millington, centre Ste Hill and scrum-half Paul Martin.

Haresfinch 30

Weaverham 24

Finch produced their best till the last game of the season against a physical Weaverham outfit.

They went ahead through two Anthony Seabrook tries and a try by Ste Richards after good work from Damian Clitheroe. Seabrook added the extras.

The Cheshire side replied with a penalty and a converted try, but Finch hit back with Neil Seabrook squeezed in at the corner.

After the break Franco's Wholesale man of the match Eddie Tinsley stormed over and a fine passage of play saw substitute John Jackson touch down.

But Weaverham staged a rousing comeback that produced three tries, two of them converted.

But John Jackson sealed the issue with a try in the last minute. St Helens

Crusaders 22

Blackpool

Scorpions 29

Poor discipline cost Crusaders dear after they had made a good start with a try by Forber, converted by Saunders. Two further tries came from winger Archer, again convrted by Saunders. Their final try came from Cottingham, before Scorpions staged their comeback.

Haydock A 42

Royton Tigers 12

Try scorers for Haydock were Alan Clark (3), Neil Chisnall, David Owen, Lee Castle and Scott Hughes. Chisnall added seven goals.

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