Blackbrook 16 Hull Dockers 20 HULL Dockers wiped out the memory of Brook's early season 14-12 victory on Humberside with an enthusiastic and occasionally fiery display at Boardmans Lane on Saturday.
However, their enthusiasm often boiled over into indiscipline and a less lenient referee then Mr Graydon might have made them pay dearly for a series of undisciplined tackles which marred an otherwise entertaining encounter.
Despite the visitors holding a 14-point advantage at the interval both sides finished the game with three tries apiece and the goal-kicking of Dockers loose-forward Steve Price with four successes from four attempts proved to be a deciding factor.
The first half started disastrously for the homesters as Dockers opened up a 12-point lead in as many minutes. Wingman Andy Stephenson opened the scoring with a fifth minute try out wide on the visitors left. Five minutes later, a cleverly worked set-piece movement in front of the home posts brought a try to prop forward Don Frankish, Steve Price added both conversions.
Midway through the first half centre Ian Callaghan opened Brook's account with a converted try.
The visitors defence faced a stern examination as Brook sought an equalising score. Second row man Steve Molyneux was stopped close to the visitors' line by an excellent tackle by full-back Darren Hazelwood only to be fouled by a second tackle as he lay on the ground, but the offence went unpunished. Almost immediately teenage hooker, was floored by an appalling tackle, in front of the visitors posts.
Substitute Darren Mitchell joined the action before the break only to be sin-binned almost immediately for holding down. Steve Price edged the Dockers into a 14-6 lead with the resultant penalty kick.
Scrum-half Graham Malison engineered the Dockers next score with a superb midfield break and full-back Darren Hazelwood added the finishing touch with a try near the posts. Steve Price gave the visitors a 20-6 interval lead with the easy conversion. The fact that this try came while the homesters were reduced to 12 men following the sinbinning of Darren Mitchell made the pill all the more difficult to swallow.
However, Mitchell made an immediate impact upon his return and reduced Brook's deficit to 10 points with an unconverted try.
Midway through the second period, brother Jason Mitchell got his name on the score sheet with a similar try in the corner. Full-back Paul Toole was just inches wide of the target with his touchline attempt but rounded off the scoring with a penalty goal minutes later.
Jason Mitchell received the Blackbrook/Construction Power Services man of the match award.
Blackbrook Royals
under 15s 24
Folly Lane 30
Royals league campaign ended disappointingly with too many players appearing to have their minds on this week's cup final. Trailing 16-0 at the break they did produce a spirited fightback, scoring tries through Proctor and Gamble man of the match Warren Taylor (3), Danny Atherton and Phil Anderton, but a last-minute try sealed the issue for Folly Lane.
Craig Bennett ran well while Liam Williams and David Bamber both came through their first games after lengthy injuries without problems. Crosfields under 12s 10
Royals 36
Hit by injuries, 11-man Royals produced a fine performance against a big Crosfields side.
Supervisions man of the match David Bates, Damon Dixon, Joey Dixon (2), Liam McDennett (2) and Peter Baker making a welcome return, got the tries with Philip Platt converting.
Royals under 11s 35
West Bank Bears 10
Royals strength in depth pulled them through this game as illness and injury hit the team.
Franco's man of the match Chris Brown (3), Paul Johnson (2) and Mike Webster got the tries, with Sean Swift the top tackler and Chris Donnelly, Mat Gartside and Paddy Flynn all impressing.
Royals under 10s 30
Leigh East nil
Playing some excellent attacking rugby and displaying well organised defence, Royals blasted their way into the North West Counties cup final in style.
Tries came from Adam Twamley (2), Ashley Butler, Dan Fairhurst, Kurt Haggerty and Keiron Edwards. Rylands under nines 18 Royals 42
Royals reached the final of the North West Counties Cup for the second successive year, with four-try man of the match Shaun Magennis in outstanding form.
Gary Wheeler, Andrew Donovan and Jamie Foster added the other tries with Ian Marren top tackler and Liam Brown taking the coaches award, in a fine all round team performance.
Royals under eights 42
Chorley Borough 12
Voss man of the match Stephen Raffrey, rapidly improving Josh Cieslar, Owen Livesey, Robert Murphy, Ben Topping, Danny Leach, Kyle Stevenson, Luke Davies and Ryan Marsden all scored in an entertaining game. Thomas Johnson led the defensive effort.
Halton Hornets under
sevens 32 Royals 44
In a great advert for junior rugby league, Royals emerged with a fine win.
Chris Ford (4), Liam Holland, Dean Craven, Allied Signals man of the match Nathan Goodwin (2), Daniel Craven, Dane Hodgkinson and coaches award winner Matthew Topping all scored with Ryan Whitley top tackler.
Royals under sevens 30
Golborne Parkside nil
Jordan Kilbride, Steven Taylor and Tom Huntington all shone in another good performance.
Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
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