Eastmoor Dragons 31 Blackbrook 28 THIRD-placed Blackbrook, missed a golden opportunity to keep the pressure on leaders Ideal Isberg and Eccles.

Right centre Ian Callaghan opened the visitors account with a converted try after just five minutes.

Eastmoor replied with a similar effort on 18 minutes after being given an extra set of six tackles following a defensive error near the posts. This gave the Conference League's leading point scorer second row man Stuart Turton the chance to storm over from close range and he levelled the scores with the easy conversion.

Despite some solid defending Brook didn't help their cause with some careless handling which added to the pressure.

Eastmoor hooker Lee Whiteley took full advantage to crash over from acting half back and Turton converted to put the homesters 12-6 ahead midway through the first half and scrum half Mark Jaques added a drop goal on 33 minutes.

But the visitors came out battling for the second half and within two minutes of the restart they had reduced the deficit to a solitary point. Stand-off Mike Hitchin fired out a long pass with bullet like precision to send Daz Mitchell over in the corner before turning in to the posts. Ian Callaghan converted.

Scrum-half Mark Jaques gave the homesters valuable breathing space with an unconverted try before Brook regained the initiative on 55 minutes. Mike Hitchin and Ian Callaghan linked up well across the face of the home posts and Callaghan stretched the homesters cover on the right flank with a long pass to send Mike Simmons over in the corner. Callaghan added a superb touchline conversion, courtesy of the far post, to put Brook 18-17 ahead.

Stuart Turton edged Eastmoor back into the lead with a penalty goal on the hour and added a converted try with barely six minutes remaining.

But a Daz Mitchell try a minute later, reduced the homesters lead to three points at 25-22. Eastmoor stormed back from the restart with a Lee Whiteley try goaled by Turton. But the visitors were not finished yet as Construction Power Services man of the match Mitchell outstripped several defenders on a 75-metre diagonal run from defence to score in the corner on the opposite side of the field. Ian Callaghan added a towering conversion from the touchline as the final whistle sounded.

Parkside Golborne

under 15s 10

Blackbrook Royals 36

This impressive all round team performance leaves Royals four points clear in the league with five games remaining.

Tries came from Mark Leonard (2), Mark Gibson, Mark Costello, Proctor and Gamble man of the match Mike Platt and Craig Bennett. Michael Ledger had his best game in Royals colours, while Shane White and Sean Bond also impressed.

Pilks Recs under 14s 26

Royals 4

Royals new look team produced a spirited first half performance before Pilks greater experience won the day.

Barry Kerkhof got Royals try, while the man of the match Liam Bostock, Richie Arnold, John Facenfield, Jon Parr and debutant Stuart Slater also played well. St Helens Crusaders

under 13s 12 Royals 42

With BICC Components man of the match James Roby leading the way, Royals gave their best performance of the season and they now need to win both their last two games to clinch the Premier Division league title.

Ian Gwilliam, David Gwilliam, Craig Littler, Kelvin Walkden and Gareth Flynn all got on the scoresheet with Paul Crooke and Ian Gwilliam converting.

Normanton Knights

under 12s 12 Royals 10

Royals suffered the heartbreak of a last-minute disallowed 'try' that would have taken them through to the National Cup final. Simon Dixon and Supervisions man of the match Dane Shepherd got Royals tries while Mel Griffiths top tackler was Philip Platt.

Saddleworth under 11s nil

Royals 30

Franco's Ltd man of the match Chris Brown raced in for the tries as Royals had a comfortable win. Paul Johnson, Scott Holland and Chris Donnelly were the other scorers with Mat Gartside, Sean Swift, Dean McGilvrey, Mike Webster and Ian Molyneux in good form.

St Helens Crusaders

under nines 16 Royals 18

Royals reached the North West Counties cup semi-finals after a terrific tussle with their local rivals.

Robert Anders, Shaun Magennis and Chris McGrath got the tries with Ian Marren man of the match and Shaun Brown and Gary Whealer playing particularly well.

Royals under sevens had two good wins over the weekend beating Leigh East on Saturday and Ince St Williams on Sunday. Dean Craven, Chris Ford, Liam Holland, Alex Holland, Dane Hodgkinson, Nathan Goodwin and Matthew Topping all scored tries while Jordan Kilbride and Daniel Kellett had excellent games.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.