Blackbrook 14 St Judes 18 TWO controversial decisions cost Brook dearly in this Conference first division encounter.

Although the visitors opened their account with an 11th minute penalty goal by Shaun Staziker, Brook fought back and Paul Toole levelled the scores with an angled penalty goal before hooker Neil Pook had what seemed a perfectly legitimate 'try' ruled out.

Brook kept up the pressure and minutes later winger Alan Barker scored out wide on the right. Paul Toole converted and edged Brook into a 10-2 lead with a penalty goal six minutes later.

St Judes responded with half-backs Darren Jones and Staziker and prop-forward Ian Dunn making good ground into home territory. But tenacious tackling by Jason Mitchell, Steve Molyneux, Dave Ryan, Phil Smith and company preserved Brook's eight-point advantage, although two minutes before the interval Dunn eventually pierced the Brook defence only for the final pass to be adjudged forward.

Four minutes after the re-start, Staziker reduced the deficit with a penalty goal. But again Brook showed character to hit back strongly with a try from Gareth Hill, and at 14-4 there seemed to be no way back for the visitors. Then came the second controversial decision which clearly upset the homesters and subsequently changed the course of the game. Brook were keeping the visitors at bay and none more so than Dave Ryan and Jason Mitchell whose combined efforts grounded the burly Dunn inches from the home line. With the tackle completed both defenders rolled clear to allow the play-the-ball, but Dunn made no attempt to rise, instead calmly stretching to place the ball at the referee's feet behind the line. Despite Brook's protests a try was the outcome and with Staziker adding the easy conversion the visitors were now back in contention at 14-10.

Brook tackled manfully to maintain their advantage, but Darren Jones eventually forced his way over on 80 minutes to level the scores. Staziker converted and completed the scoring with a penalty goal in the fourth minute of added time.

There were several outstanding performances in a first-class team effort by Brook with Jason Mitchell, Steve Molyneux, Dave Ryan and Gareth Hill particularly impressive.

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