Blackpool Stanley 6

Haresfinch 18 FINCH bounced back from a woeful performance the previous week to turn in probably their best display of the season in knocking a confident Blackpool side out of the North West Counties Cup.

Despite being hampered by the customary cry-offs, the visitors showed great spirit to rise to the occasion and record a thoroughly deserved win.

In fact, the final scoreline flattered the home side who would have been well out of contention by half-time had Finch turned their obvious superiority into points.

As it was, despite dominating the first half, Finch had to settle for a 5-0 interval lead, courtesy of a Jeff Brown drop goal and an unconverted try by full-back Dave Swift.

A try by centre John Jackson, converted by player/coach Billy Platt, and a second drop goal by Brown, stretched Finch's advantage to 12 points early in the second period.

But Blackpool hit back and a converted try midway through the second half inspired their best spell of the match with only spirited defence by Finch keeping them at bay.

The visitors had the last say though when the veteran Platt belied his age to scoot a full 80 yards for the clinching touchdown, goalled by Brown.

In an excellent team effort, Finch were particularly well served by second-row Damian Clitheroe, hard-working packmen Henry Gearing, Paul Horsley and Shaun Kilgannon, half-backs Stuart and Lee Simmons, and wingers Lee Halsall and John Hodkinson.

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