for their 32-6 victory, in a physical but highly entertaining encounter. Watched by a sizable Teesside crowd, Sunderland were 10-0 down at half time but rallied after the break with a try by Charlie Oglubode and a Hayden Richards conversion to put themselves back in contention at the start of the second half, and a shock looked on the cards. Superior fitness told in the final quarter as the Akkies ran in four tries to claim victory. Winger Tom Varley led the way with a hat trick for the visitors, Chris Sinnet, Tom Bindloss and Darren Shipman their other try scorers, with James Howard kicking four goals. The searing pace of outstanding winger Kevin Davey, who ran in five tries, was the highlight of JARROW VIKINGS’ 94-0 rout of gallant DURHAM TIGERS, for whom Bob McAughtre was outstanding. Stand off Reece Young was also in exceptional form with the boot, missing only one of 16 shots at goal. Vikings led 42-0 at the break, second rower Michael Gray posting two touchdowns after Paul Roebuck had opened the scoring in the fifth minute. Liam Hirst and Bruce Parker also crossed along with Davey’s first two. Five minutes into the second period, centre David Irving posted the first of his brace, Joseph Grant, James Ffitch, Sam Jacques and Joe Grant Vikings’ other try scorers. CARLISLE CENTURIONS weathered an early storm from a big, aggressive and committed PETERLEE PUMAS side who had won the previous two fixtures between the sides. Elusive Luke Watson gave the Pumas an early lead and they went on to completely dominate the first quarter. Thereafter it was a full-blooded encounter with Carlisle’s superior pace and fitness to the fore as the league leaders served up some fine tries. Mike Dodd led the charge with a brace and other touchdowns came from Craig Atkinson, Dennis Bibby, Tom Armstrong, Martin Stalker and Chris Harris. Harris also shared the goals with George Graham at three apiece. The game was still in the balance at half time with the score at 6–22 but it was effectively settled in the 45th minute by Martin Stalker’s 50 metre score. Two further Carlisle tries pushed it out to 6–38 but Peterlee refused to buckle to the expected avalanche of Carlisle points in the closing stages and can take heart from this performance. NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS routed WHITLEY BAY BARBARIANS 110-0.
MIDLANDS PREMIER
On Friday night under floodlights at The Bay, NOTTINGHAM OUTLAWS strengthened their position at the top of the table with an 88-0 hammering of LEICESTER PHOENIX. Stand off Paul Calland helped himself to 30 points with four tries and seven goals as the Outlaws ran in 17 touchdowns against the division’s bottom side. Once Aled Hills had opened the scoring on five minutes, the Outlaws were able to cruise to victory against a Phoenix side that battled hard but could make little headway against their unbeaten opponents. Six tries in the opening quarter began the blitz and the half century was reached before the break. Calland collected a first half hat-trick, Tom Howley scored twice, Rob Brown, Ben Radford, Chris McNamara and George Strachan also crossed for the home side and they refused to let up in the second period, crossing on seven more occasions. Radford completed a hat-trick, Jimmy Lewis bagged a brace and Liam Annable and Oliver Crick completed Leicester’s misery. Brown added three goals to complete the tally. COVENTRY BEARS soon got over a shaky start to record a comfortable 46-16 win over DERBY CITY thanks to a hat-trick from replacement Matt Cooper. The Bears went behind to the first of Graham Mallinson’s two tries as City began strongly but Coventry found their feet and unconverted tries from Ben Powis, Alex Brown and Cooper’s first to lead 12-6 at the break. A burst of four tries early in the second period ended Derby’s hopes of a win as Cooper crossed twice and Tim Stevens and Lee Ashford followed him across the whitewash. Ian Gilmore pulled a score back for City but Scott Clendenning-Fenton and Ashford’s second try extended the Bears’ advantage. City had the final word with Mallinson’s second touchdown. Graham Healey kicked five goals for the Bears, Lee Tague two for the visitors. There was a try feast at Chosen Hill as GLOUCESTERSHIRE WARRIORS scraped home 42-38 against BIRMINGHAM BULLDOGS, with the crowd witnessing 15 touchdowns as the home side could not shake off a tenacious Bulldogs outfit. Luke Langham opened the scoring for the Warriors before Dan Simpson replied with the first of his hat-trick for the Bulldogs. The Warriors built a 22-6 lead thanks to James Comber, Stephan Fourie and Chris Furze but back came the Bulldogs with three tries to level matters at the break from Simpson, Ali Eyre and Mark Abel. The second half was nip and tuck as first the Warriors then the Bulldogs scored but it was two early tries from Furze and Alan Bryan that gave the Warriors enough of a cushion to hang on until the final whistle. Adam Walker, Abel and Simpson all registered scores for the visitors while Jake Perry-Gardiner and Justin Andrews crossed for the home side for whom Ben Hough kicked four goals and Fourie one. Dan Bancroft was on target with five goals for the Bulldogs in a hugely entertaining scrap.
WALES
CARDIFF DEMONS recorded a 36-26 victory over BRIDGEND BLUE BULLS with a spirited attacking display which resulted in seven tries. Man of the match Owain Jenkins played a key role throughout scoring a late brace which included a fantastic burst from dummy half, which secured the points. The Bulls were dealt a big blow early in the first half when they lost there captain and talisman Jon Purnell with a facial injury. Demon Rhodri Thomas opened the scoring when he took the pass from Shane Goddard and went in near the left corner. Bridgend quickly responded when seventeen year old prop Rhys Hawkins charged over between the posts. Lloyd O’Conner converted to give Bridgend the lead, a feat they only achieved once more during the game. Further tries from Marcus Edwards and Andrew Lee with conversions from Shane Goddard and Curtis Cunningham extended the Demon’s lead, before Bridgend’s O’Conner crossed to reduce the deficit. Curtis Cunningham’s sharp run from dummy half saw him go over unchallenged for the Demons fourth try taking the score to 20-10 at the break. Bridgend started the second half much better scoring through Michael John and Michael Daley; Shaun Owen converting both to give the Blue Bulls a two point lead. A penalty for offside resulted in Cardiff prop Graham Hughes barging his way through and the conversion by Goddard gave them a lead they never surrendered. Jenkins’ brace, with one converted by Goddard, ended the game as a contest; before a late consolation try for Bridgend’s hooker Shane Owen. The Demons thoroughly deserved their first ever victory over the reigning champions but the Bulls look to have found to future stars with teenager forwards Gareth Thomas and Rhys Hawkins excelling. VALLEY COUGARS maintained their unbeaten record after an impressive 40-16 win against a strong NEWPORT TITANS side.The first half was a pretty even affair as the teams traded opening tries with James Allen scoring for the Cougars and Joe Burke for the Titans. They were converted by Ceri Cummins and Ross Bridgemont respectively. The Cougars hit the front with Allen’s second, the try of the game, as they showed some slick handling breaking from their own half for Allen to touch down between the sticks.
Lee Williams and Cummins stretched the lead before the Titans clawed a score back from Dalton Grant. A Cummins penalty brought the score to 22-10 at the half. Cougars picked up the pace in the second period with quick-fire tries from Cummins and Ryan Jones, both of which were converted by Cummins. The Titans got on the score sheet through Wayne Decruz before the Cougars wrapped up the game with a final try from Chris Watts. A twenty six point blitz in the first half gave NEATH PORT TALBOT STEELERS a much needed first win of the season, against WEST WALES SHARKS, 40-28. Tries came from Dean Scully, Mark Harvey a pair from Aaron Bray and the pick of the bunch from Chris Cornelius, which along with two conversions fromPeter Smigs and one from Lee Drabble, gave the Steelers a 26-0 lead at the break. Mark Harvey stretched the lead for the home team before seventeen year Owain Jenkins scored an unanswered hat trick for the Sharks. Three Conversions from Jonathon Griffiths threw the contest back in the melting pot but the Steelers struck back with tries from James Davies and Simon Bailey; the latter, converted by Drabble, effectively killing the game off. Griffiths and Dai Norman picked up consolation tries for the Sharks and with Griffiths’s conversions they won the second half 28-14 but it was not enough. Winger Gareth Dare, was the hero as BLACKWOOD BULLDOGS just held off the challenge of TORFAEN TIGERS, his pair of tries at the death just enough to edge this tough local derby at Glan-yr-Afon Park. Even though Blackwood came into the game undefeated, the Tigers showed they meant business as their big side started strongly. They opened the scores with a Matthew Davies try, which Greg Jones converted, in the pouring rain. Bulldogs responded well, and following a fiesty spell, when a couple of yellow cards were handed out, Grenville Jones broke through to score and Paul Emmanuelli converted. Blackwood took the lead for the first time when Simon Skinner found the room to beat the Torfaen cover, Emmanuelli converted and a tight first half ended 12-6. Tigers came back into it as the second period began and Darryl Carter made the most of defensive indecision, to touch down. The game of nip and tuck continued when Gareth Price side stepped a couple of defenders to score between the posts. The game then swung Torfaen’s way, as tries by Dave Horseman and Jessie Farthing, one converted by Jones, put the Tigers ahead. With time ticking away, the Bulldogs threw everything at the visitors and it paid off with the pair of Dare tries as Blackwood held on for a 26-20 victory
SOUTHERN PREMIER
Defending champions ST ALBANS CENTURIONS got back to winning ways with a 38-32 victory over ELMBRIDGE in a thriller. There was nothing in it for the first 15 minutes but Elmbridge went ahead after sustained pressure. They were 14-0 up after half an hour, having scored three tries from the excellent Mike McSweeney, stand off Leon Gillespie and Doug Rodman. The Centurions were giving away too much possession but just before half time they hit back with two good tries from Richard Smith and Jamie Molloy, both converted by Jack Cornthwaite. The Cents started the second half as they'd finished the first and posted three more tries through Miles Dempsey, Rudi van der Merwe and a Jacques Steynberg special as he powered down the left flank. Two tries in swift succession by Warriors winger Simon Molloy put the contest back on and when substitute Aaron Beesley crashed over for Elmbridge to bring them to within two points, it was up for grabs. But the experience of Richard Smith, St. Albans' man of the match, was all important. He scored two more tries to complete his hat trick. Both sides scored seven tries, the difference being Cents' goal kicking full back Corthwaite, who kicked five goals whereas Rick Mee could manage only two. SOUTH LONDON got their season well and truly back on track with a commanding win over play off rivals IPSWICH RHINOS, 36-16, at a sun soaked Storm Park. It was Storm who were fastest out of the blocks, skipper and hooker Luke Bonnor scooting over in the second minute after Ipswich had lost possession. The home team’s early dominance continued through the first quarter of the match and after 22 minutes they seemed to be cruising to a comfortable win as further scores from Mickey Walker and Bonnor gave them a 16-0 lead. However the Rhinos hit back and with two tries in a ten minute spell just before half time, had Storm struggling. Firstly centre Daryll Walters out jumped the home defence to crash over for a score converted by Peter LeMarquand and then his fellow outside back Rod Arbon finished off a great move that LeMarquand again converted to leave the match evenly balanced at 16-12. The game breaker came in first half injury time as form centre Peter Maddgan burst through the visiting defence and sprinted 60 metres to finish between the posts. The first 20 minutes of the second half saw both sides create and fail to take advantage of chances but on the hour, Storm replacement Lee McCarthy scored the try of the match when he ran on to a great pass from Andy Glvary to put the South Londoners 26-12 ahead. Ten minutes from time Owan Rhodda combined with Walker to stretch the lead and then winger Rasheed Alawiye posted his first try for Storm with a great solo effort. Rhinos grabbed a consolation through Walters again three minutes from time. Storm coach Marcus Tobin was pleased with the result “The second half display was very good. First half we did some good things with the ball but didn’t respect possession enough. Once we sorted that we gave a much more controlled performance. There’s a lot more to come from this team though" he commented.
CO-OPERATIVE RUGBY LEAGUE CONFERENCE – REGIONAL – 14th June – MATCH REPORTS NORTH WEST A two try burst by BARROW VIKINGS stand off Lee Edmondson inside three minutes, around the quarter way mark, gave BLACKPOOL SEA EAGLES too much of a mountain to climb, the visitors eventually running out 52-14 winners. Scrum half Brett Whitehead had given Blackpool an early lead, Dan White and Dave Smith with tries inside three minutes of each other taking Barrow in front. After Edmondson’s brace, full back Smith again and Gareth Shaw made it 32-10 at the break, Philip Clark having scored for the hosts. Thom Vanstone, Edmondson with his hat trick, Matt Parkinson and Glen Phillips all crossed for the Vikings, Stephen Stollery gaining a late consolation for Blackpool. Five unanswered tries in the opening 24 minutes set WIDNES SAINTS on the way to convincing victory over NEW BROUGHTON RANGERS, 52-12 at Castle Irwell. Hooker Craig Miillington was the Saints star, crossing for five tries, second rower Craig Duggan claiming an early four minute brace. Danny Sharples and Mike Fairclough also crossed for the visitors before the break, Matt Bateman with Rangers’ only score. 17 year old prop Ben Bailey was excellent for the visitors as Fairclough grabbed a double, second rower Michael de Bot with two tries, Broughton’s best in the second half. CHESHIRE Only in the last 20 minutes did RUNCORN VIKINGS assert their superiority as they won 34-20 at RHYL COASTERS. It was Rhyl who were attacking relentlessly in the final stages trying to salvage the game and in the process had three tries disallowed. The bonus for the Welsh team was the unearthing of another outstanding prospect in Nathan Roberts, the loose forward scoring two wonderful tries on his debut. The other scorers for the Coasters were Sam Massam, Carl Murray and Callum Bennett. NORTHWICH STAGS needed a late drop goal to see off the challenge of LYMM WOLVES, 27-18. LINCOLNSHIRE & SOUTH YORKSHIRE LINCOLN CITY KNIGHTS held on to second place in the league despite a disappointing 32-16 defeat away at ROSSINGTON SHARKS, who recaptured their best form. Tries from Knight’s Andy Donnor and Pete Webster made the scores 10-10 by half time, with Paul Purnell and Patrick O’Donovon responding for Rossington. A brace from excellent Gareth Burns along with tries from Alani Kaihan and Ryan Johnson sealed the victory for the hosts, with Lincoln’s only reply coming from Dan Reeds. Wayne Green was the star for MOORENDS-THORNE MOOR MARAUDERS, scoring a club record five tries as they beat SHEFFIELD FORGERS 80-10. Chris Allen was not far behind him with a hat trick in a terrific personal display. Sheffield shared the early spoils, Jack Brookes-Moncriff replying to Allen’s first but Moorends led 28-4 at the break, Ryan Rafferty and Jason Blanchard also crossing. Craig Hookway and Ben Hoffman got on the score sheet for the hosts in the second half, Tom Else replying. Adam Lloyd and Steve Allen completed the 14-try rout, Ryan Rafferty kicking 12 goals. WEST MIDLANDS SWINDON ST GEORGE came agonisingly close to recording their first win, going down 24-18 at home to WOLVERHAMPTON WIZARDS, and matching their more experienced opponents try for try in an end-to-end thriller. Only the goal kicking of Garry Morgan and Tommy Huggins, who both landed two for the visitors, proved to be the difference. Jim Roden opened the scoring in the third minute for the hosts and Swindon continued to dominate the bulk of the first half, Tony Weston and Shaun O’Rourke tries sandwiching a breakaway Wizards effort from scrum half Huggins. However, Wolverhampton hit back on the stroke of half-time with a Morgan touchdown to level the scores at 12 points apiece. The second period opened up with some ferocious tackling from both sides, which served to negate some fine attacking play. Indeed, it was a credit to both defences that in such an expansive period, lasting 33 minutes, no points came from open play; the visitors kicking the only score from a penalty on 72 minutes to edge in front. Two Wolverhampton touchdowns from Neil Cartwright and Mat Shiston then followed but still Swindon were not finished, Woody Briggs crossing in the last minute and Shane Criddle adding the extras to set up a nail-biting finale. Even though they were reduced to one interchange because of injury, REDDITCH RAVENS produced a heroic effort to win 42-26 at COVENTRY BEARS. John Hanna stole the show for the Ravens with his collection of 22 points from three tries and five goals while also defending superbly. For the Bears, centre Thusitha Vithanage caused problems each time he got ball in hand and also claimed a hat trick of tries. Josh Ackrill scored his debut try for Redditch as they led 22-10 at the break. Alex Wotton scored on his bow for the visitors three minutes into the second half, Ackrill getting his second and Mitchell Todd replying in the corner for the Bears. Winger Andy Irvine got a deserved try for Redditch and 16 year old Stuart Pugh was another to claim his inaugural score with a fine try. Todd’s second touchdown for Coventry completed the scoring. YORKSHIRE In an amazing game, YORK LOKOMOTIVE held on to record a terrific win over previously unbeaten BRIDLINGTON BULLS, 34-32, the lead changing hands eight times. There was no breakthrough for 15 minutes until Paul Sawyer intercepted in his own half to score the first try for the Lokos. Bulls hit back with a Tom Radley brace but on half hour, York winger Paul Cross finished flowing move. Luke Thompson edged the Bulls ahead but Tom Gargan scored on the stroke of half time to make it 14-12 to York. Paul Kirby gave the Bulls the lead again with a sidestepping try but Michael Williams brought Lokos back into contention with classy effort, plucking a high ball from the air at full speed. Bridlington responded again with a Mathew Green try followed by another Kirby touchdown to give them an eight point lead but Jason Roberts threw himself through a mass of visiting defenders to score. Gargan and a Tom Dunmore goal edged Lokos in front but with three minutes left, Bulls scored what most people thought was the winner with try from Martin Jackson. Gargan had the final word, though, completing a hat-trick and a man of the match performance with the winning try right in the last minute. At 16-2 ahead at half time, SCARBOROUGH PIRATES looked set for victory but, masterminded by scrum half Ade Tallon, LEEDS AKKIES hit back to win 18-16. James Millward and Tallon swapped early penalties but tries by Jack Johnson, Saul Seavers and Craig Marsden seemed to have put the Pirates in charge. Richard Johnson, Kyle Midgley and, decisively in the 68th minute, John Lee had other ideas, Tallon’s three goals to Millward’s two proving to be the difference. NORTHALLERTON STALLIONS had an early try disallowed at EAST RIDING but that proved to be a wake up call for the hosts, who went on to triumph 80-16. Easts responded with a sequence of quick tries; Paul Robinson the star with four and young winger Craig McNee finishing with a treble. Vocal Matty McNee at full back grabbed a brace of tries, but left his kicking boots at home with only 6 of 17 tries converted. Ed Wolmersley scored a fine solo effort for the Stallions but the second half was much the same, Riding’s Joel Dunne finding the line followed by an excellent individual try by Craig Styles. Criag Sykes responded for the visitors but their fire was finally extinguished with a Danny Brewer touchdown on 53 minutes. Northallerton finished on a high, though, with a fine late score from winger James Tyreman. SCOTLAND A drop goal two minutes from time by Scotty Lamport gave MORAY EELS the narrowest of victories against EASTERHOUSE PANTHERS, his point the difference in 33. The mixture of weather in the Highlands saw both teams go through an array of handling errors during a hard fought contest. A David Simm try and Dave Crangle conversion put the Panthers ahead, two Glen Allison touchdowns and a Lamport goal just edging the Eels in front at the break. Winger Indio Singh and Luis Delgado crossed to put Easterhouse back in front but Eels back rowers Allison and Glen Collins, whose try levelled matters, kept their side in the contest. Despite the best efforts of twins Ross and Greg Gillies to prevent the one-pointer with a terrific chase, Lamport finally find the space to win the game. Inexperienced JORDANHILL PHOENIX were put to the sword as EDINBURGH EAGLES ran in 18 tries in a 102-6 success. Phoenix had the consolation of a try by hooker Gregg Haslett but they could not cope with the visitor’s power through the middle. Loose forward Paul Stewart grabbed a hat trick for the Eagles and there were tries for Cieran Watson, John McDonald, Andrew Brown, Ash Carroll, John Cox, Donald Anderson, Euan Rose and Andy Grosdyniki who also kicked 13 goals.
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