Kirkholt WMC 16 Blackbrook A 7 BLACKBROOK'S slim hopes of escaping relegation from the NWC Third Division ended in the mud at Rochdale on Saturday in their final league game of the season.

The only consolation from a miserable afternoon for the visitors came after the break when wingman Mark Dickinson raced in for his 16th try of the season.

The visitors prospects began to look grim as early as the third minute when they had a player dismissed for an offence in a tackle, when a yellow card would have been more appropriate.

Despite this early dismissal, Brook showed tremendous commitment to keep their line intact, and led 2-0 at the interval courtesy of an Alan Barker penalty goal. Midway through the second half the homesters eventually opened their account.

Mark Dickinson had extended Brook's lead to six points with an unconverted try before Kirkholt replied with a similar effort by Steve James.

Mike Simmons edged Brook into a 7-4 lead with a drop goal but that was the last point that the visitors put on the board. The homesters gradually shrugged off their own indifferent form to find another gear in the closing stages to add a further 12 points, for a final scoreline that flattered them a little and hardly did the visitors any justice.

Much as they did in the first half, Brook had an abundance of willing workers, with Paul Devanney, Paul Gavin and Steven Woods foremost amongst them. But the handicap of playing with a man short for almost the whole of the game, in heavy conditions, eventually took its toll. Pilkingtons

under 10s 12

Blackbrook Royals 18

Royals progressed to the semi-finals of the North West Counties cup with a hard fought win over their local rivals.

The finishing of Royals Kurt Haggerty proved the difference between the teams as he scored all three Royals tries with Bobbie Littler converting. Keiron Edwards was the Duke of Cambridge man of the match with Stuart Harman top tackler and Mike Rawsthorne most improved player.

Rylands under

eights 16

Royals 46

Voss man of the match Liam Taylor ran in five tries as Royals continued their excellent form. Luke Davies (2), Robert Murphy (2), Owen Livesey (2) top tackler Thomas Johnson and most improved Ste Rafferty also got on the scoresheet.

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