Pilkington Recs 14 Widnes St Maries 20

RECS were their own worst enemy as a stream of handling errors meant that they rarely enjoyed spells of sustained pressure in the visitors' half.

St Maries started brightly and were 12 points in front in as many minutes, thanks to sloppy Recs handling and defending.

Midway through the first half centre Darren Haigh made Recs' first real break, running 50-yards before drawing the full back to send wingman Jason Ledger in to score.

International loose-forward Dawson edged Maries further ahead with a penalty but just before the break Recs scored again when full back Jamie Hill linked up to send substitute forward Chris Gearing striding 35 yards to score beneath the posts. Unfortunately the easy conversion was missed.

Hopes were high for a Recs improvement in the second half, but more sloppy defence allowed the visitors in for a further converted try after just five minutes through strong-running centre Lester.

Despite being outweighed Recs' forwards battled hard with Ian Connolly, Jason Beavan and Andy Hay all working tirelessly, and the homesters finished the stronger of the two sides.

Eight minutes from time Ledger scored his second try from a crossfield kick and Mark Jackson's touchline conversion gave Recs just a glimmer of hope. But in the end it was the kicking of Dawson, with four goals, which separated the sides.

For Recs, match day sponsors Sherdley Tyres man-of-the-match award went to young loose-forward Anthony Marsh closely followed by Jason Beavan, Jamie Hill and Ian Connolly.

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