Blackbrook 14 Oulton 19

FOR the second week in succession Blackbrook went down narrowly to White Rose opposition in an entertaining Conference League Division One encounter.

After taking an early lead, Brook were still ahead at the break but once again it was the Yorkshiremen who eventually picked up the two points.

The Leeds-based outfit had stand-off Andy Edgell to thank for their success with two second-half goals and three crucial drop goals in the closing stages.

On the hour, Brook led 14-10 and seemed well on course for their third league victory of the season until Edgell reduced the deficit to a point with a penalty goal and a drop goal.

Then on 70 minutes, substitute Keri Ryan broke the homesters' hearts when he charged down an attempted clearance kick and followed up to scoop the ball up at speed close to the line and dive over in the corner. Edgell was narrowly off target with the touchline conversion but added two drop goals in the dying minutes.

Tigerish tackling from both sides thwarted several promising attacking moves in a tense opening spell - broken only by an Andy Benson penalty goal for Brook who increased their lead five minutes later when centre Gareth Hill rounded off a bout of crisp handling and excellent support play with a 35-metre run to the corner. The conversion attempt failed.

Oulton reduced the first-half deficit to just two points when centre Steve Jakeman forced his way over in the corner on 30 minutes.

Benson opened the scoring again after the break with a penalty goal on 42 minutes. Ten minutes later, however, a second try by Jakeman goaled by Edgell gave the visitors the lead for the first time during the game.

Nevertheless, Brook hit back strongly. Dave Ryan made the vital break through on the left and Andy Holland moved up quickly in support to send co-centre Hill in for his second try. Benson converted to regain the initiative for the homesters.

But Brook found the game slipping away from them in the closing stages as Oulton struck back with a seven-point scoring burst before Andy Edgell wrapped the game up with two well-taken drop goals.

For the second week in succession prop forward Colin Smith took the Blackbrook/Construction power man on the match accolade with Dave Ryan, Jason Mitchell and Gareth Hill also worthy contenders.

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