Blackbrook 14 Thornhill 33 CONFERENCE First Division pacesetters Thornhill strengthened their promotion challenge at Blackbrook's expense on Saturday.

Despite their solid defending Brook didn't help their cause with a low-key performance before the break. Each mistake they made was punished mercilessly by the experienced visitors. Full-back Richard Bainton finished the game with a personal tally of 12 points from six successful attempts at goal.

Blackbrook paid the price for the two early indiscretions, which Bainton gratefully accepted to put the visitors 4-0 ahead after four minutes.

Thornhill continued to pressurise the home line from the restart and free-scoring prop Steve Naylor punished a handling error in front of the home posts when he pounced upon a dropped pass to grab his customary try. Bainton added the extras.

But Blackbrook responded well to reduce the deficit to just four points with a penalty goal by Alan Barker and a Chris Webber try.

However, the visitors edged further ahead with a drop goal from hooker Rob Simpson and a try from centre Jimmy Gittins goaled by Richard Bainton gave them valuable breathing space at 6-17 midway through the first half. Blackbrook fell further behind before the break. A Brook attempted to clear the line on the left, Wayne Loney intercepted a careless inside pass, turned and scampered back down the touchline to score near the corner flag.

But Blackbrook quickly recovered from this set back to reduce the deficit with a fine try engineered by Dave Ryan and scored by Gareth Hill.

The visitors had the better of the opening exchanges after the break, but the homesters drew first blood, when Alan Barker touched down.

But the visitors had that little bit of extra stamina in the closing stages.

Firstly, several players handled well in front of the posts before the centre Richard Hyde touched down. Minutes later the former Featherstone Rovers stand-off weaved his way through the home defence to score beneath the posts and Bainton rounded off the scoring with the easy conversion.

Jason Mitchell receieved the Blackbrook/Construction Power Services man of the match award.

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