Westgate Redoubt 18 Blackbrook 26 BLACKBROOK ensured their passage into the Fourth Round of the BARLA National Cup with a converted try in the sixth minute of added time.

The visitors showed what character, heart and fight they had in a seven-try cracker of a match that saw them build up a 20-0 first half lead with some enterprising attacking play.

But they needed all those qualities in abundance, particularly in the closing stages after Westgate had staged a tremendous recovery to reduce the deficit to just two points in injury time.

Even so, the home pack, was eventually tamed by a tenacious Blackbrook defence before second row man Steve Molyneux sealed Brook's victory with a try goaled by Ian Callaghan in the 86th minute.

The action had begun in spectacular style with Brook's Ian Buckley bursting through a group of opposing players on a 45-metre run straight from the kick-off before he was finally brought down inside home territory.

The Hull based match official often frustrated the homesters as a series of penalties went the visitors way in the opening 10 minutes, which allowed Ian Callaghan to open Blackbrook's account with two penalty goals.

Ian Callaghan used the slope well with a 65-metre diagonal touch kick to put pressure on the home line. Three minutes later, prop forward Ian Buckley increased Brook's lead to eight points with an unconverted try.

And Brook stretched their lead to 14 points, with a Jason Mitchell try converted by Callaghan on 18 minutes.

Callaghan then opened up the home defence with a powerful midfield burst to send Alan Fletcher in close to the posts, Callaghan gave Brook a 20-0 lead with the easy conversion.

However, indiscipline in the ranks almost cost the visitors dear. They conceded penalties at frequent intervals and Westgate opened their account with a Chris Wright try, goaled by Craig Riley within two minutes of the restart, and their hopes of victory rose considerably when Blackbrook had a player dismissed.

With the advantage of the slope and a heavier pack in the second half, plus a numerical advantage Westgate began to get on top and second row forward Mark Hasslegrave grabbed a second try for the homesters, which Craig Riley converted.

Westgate stormed back again from the restart and reduced the deficit to just two points with a last minute try from Chris Wright converted by Craig Riley.

The burly Westgate forwards pounded the Blackbrook line in search of a match winning try, as the game entered a period of added time, but the Blackbrook defence in which Darren Mitchell, Ian Buckley, Phil Smith, Colin Smith and Steve Molyneux were particularly outstanding, kept them at bay until a try by Molyneux and an Ian Callaghan conversion put the game out of the homesters reach in the 86th minute.

Darren Mitchell received the Blackbrook/Construction Power Services man of the match accolade. Blackbrook Royals under 14s 16 Parkside Golborne 22

Royals produced a spirited performance that bodes well for the future as the new players settle in. With Rimmer Industrial Services man of the match Ste Rawsthorne in outstanding form, well supported by Liam Bostock, Barry Kerkhof and Neil Rigby, they fought back from 14-0 down only to run out of time.

Kerkhof, Rawsthorne and John Facenfield got Royals tries while Neil Pearson and Richie Arnold made encouraging debuts.

Royals under 13s 24 Wigan St Pats nil

While never reaching the heights of the previous week's performance Royals still had too much power for a spirited Pats outfit. However, a big improvement will be needed for the tougher games ahead in the chase for the league title. Chris Tyrer, Kelvin Walkden and David Gwilliam (2) got the tries with James Roby converting.

Royals under 11s 14 Pilks Recs Nil

Franco's Ltd man of the match Ian Molyneux (2) and top tackler Martyn Bradshaw got Royals' tries while Liam Armson, Dean McGilvray, Chris Donnelly and Scott Holland also played well. Royals under 10s 4 Wigan St Pats 6

This was a tremendous game between two totally committed sides and neither side deserved to lose. Ashley Butler got Royals try, Keiron Naylor took the Duke of Cambridge man of the match award. Mark Bostock top tackler and Stuart Homes most improved player.

Royals under nines 36 Pilks Recs 6

Chris McGrath scored a hat-trick with Gary Wheeler (2), Robert Anders, Shaun Brown, Shaun Magenis and Jamie Foster also getting on the scoresheet.

Mitchell Grove was top tackler and Stephen Burrows, Matthew Cunliffe, Ian Marren, Beth Stott and Gareth Lake all had top games.

Royals under eights 34 Pilks Recs 4

Recovering from the previous week's cup defeat Royals, with Voss man of the match Liam Taylor and Thomas Johnson leading the scorers had a comfortable local derby win. Luke Davies, Greg McDonald, Kyle Stevenson (top tackler) and Robert Murphy also scored, while Adam Mars was the most improved player.

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