Hopwood’s skill on show as U15s blank Blackbook in superb style

HFH U15 52 Blackbrook 0 STRAIGHT from the kick-off Hornets worked their way up the field for Lewis Dodd to step his way through the defence to touch down.

Blackbrook’s return kick went into touch and Hornets capitalised on this error with three quick sets up field.

Dodd kicked to the corner for William Smith to finish. Then Dan Hill caught a high ball in his own half before leaving the Blackbrook defence standing for Dodd to complete the score.

Dodd then returned the favour. With a show of super skill running at full speed, he chipped the Blackbrook defence and collected the ball to put Hill in under the sticks.

The crowd was then treated to a moment of pure skill and determination by Thomas Hopwood. Running from deep onto the ball, Hopwood not only saw off two defenders but managed to slip the ball out while the covering defence struggled to contain his power and slick handling skills put Hill in for a try to make the interval score 28-0.

The second half started as the first had finished with Hopwood displaying formidable speed and strength to break through the Blackbrook defence again to put Hill in under the posts.

Twelve minutes from the end, Hornets heaped on more pressure with Dodd going in under the sticks. Straight from the kick-off, Dodd stepped the defence to put Keenan McDaid in. With only two minutes left, Dodd sealed the game with a good individual try in at the corner to complete a 52-0 win.

HFH U12 14 Wigan St Jude’s U12 8 FROM the start Hornets were camped on the Jude’s line for four sets just coming up short until coaches’ award winner Joey Nulty sold a dummy to cross for the first try.

After giving away two soft penalties, St Jude’s got in the Hornets’ 20 and crossed in the corner.

Hornets started the second half again in control with manof-the-match Zac Marsden hitting a good line to cross out wide only to have the ball ripped with try given and a penalty. With Peter Scott converting all three tries to put the Hornets 14-4 up, St Jude’s got a late try but Hornets had the game in control till the final whistle.

Jack Craig was top tackler.