Lancashire Cup Semi Final GRASSHOPPERS U13s 20 FYLDE 12

GRASSHOPPERS face a tantalising Lancashire Cup Final against old rivals Vale of Lune after collecting this eight point win.

Battling against falling rain and a boggy pitch, Hoppers took an early lead as Douglas Fitzgerald and Matthew Walmsley prized the ball from Fylde's grasp. Tom Robinson's ball to Ian Morgan saw the centre punch a decisive hole in the Fylde defence and Chris Gorman's perfectly weighted pass gave winger Chris Rush his opportunity to slide over in the corner.

Fylde came back to level as their huge pack, making good use of a practised penalty move, scrambled a score.

Despite conceding a significant weight advantage, Hoppers second row ensured the home skipper, John Peterson, won the majority of the scrummaging ball.

Hoppers withstood the pressure, waiting for errors in the Fylde play. A one man effort by Anthony Mellalieu put Hoppers into the lead.

The visitors struck back on half time, leaving the second half to start 12-12. Again, Mellalieu gave the home side the lead with a penalty kick, 20 metres out.

Ten minutes from time, Jack Ward increased Hoppers' lead to eight points, a margin which was defended with vigour until the end.

HOPPERS U11s 14 CUMBRIA 28

FOURTEEN-ALL with five minutes to go and Hoppers holding Cumbria, another positive result seemed likely for the County side.

The visitors' went ahead twice in the first but Garth Dew and Tom Peterson helped Hoppers claw back. Sam Chard added a second try but it was all in vain as two second half breakaway trys took the game beyond Hoppers' reach.

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