Haresfinch 70 Irlam Hornets 4 FINCH warmed up for this week's BARLA Cup trek to Maryport with a 12-try mauling of struggling Irlam Hornets.

Despite the heavy conditions both sides contrived to play open rugby in a game that, in stark contrast to previous clashes between the clubs, was played in good spirit for the most part.

Finch though always looked to hold the upper hand and once they had opened the scoring when stand-off Stuart Simmons dummied his way over, the result was never in doubt.

Further first-half tries followed from loose-forward Karl Farrall, centre John Jackson (2) and hooker Iain Kenyon, with player/coach Billy Platt adding four conversions to make it 28-0 at the interval.

To their credit, Irlam refused to surrender and even opened the second-half scoring with a try by hard-working centre Gary Butterworth. However, Finch quickly picked up where they had left off with Platt powering over and adding the goal to set the scene for a one-sided final quarter that saw the homesters scoring almost at will.

Winger Lee Jones was next on the scoresheet with a dazzling 60-yard solo effort, then Farrall grabbed his second from a set move, before the elusive Jackson took his match tally to five with a quick-fire hat-trick.

It was left to industrious scrum-half Shaun Kilgannon to score the final try when he picked up a loose ball to scamper in from 20 yards. Platt and full-back Dave Swift added three conversions apiece to complete the scoring.

In a good all-round team effort the winners were particularly well served by Swift, Jackson, Simmons, Kilgannon, Kenyon, Lomas and Farrall, while for Irlam full-back Neil Brookshaw, stand-off George Caffrey, player/coach Roy Fenlan and forwards Mike Donnelly and Paul Wasp never stopped trying.

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