Hornets power into final with 13-try blitz
Halton F’worth Hornets Open Age 72
Hindpool Open Age 0 HORNETS celebrated their promotion to the NWML Premier Division with a 13-try romp in their playoff semi-final against Hindpool.
You would not have thought Hornets had not played for three weeks as they scored at more than a point a minute in a blistering first half display.
Hindpool simply had no answer to the pace and power of the Hornets and they were thankful that the referee blew up 15 minutes early as it saved them the possibility of a three-figure defeat.
Hornets ran in scores at regular intervals with doubles for Gavin Conroy, Scott Yates, Nathan Lyon and Ant Hollins with Tom Swift, Danny Mellor, Andy Owens, Tom O’Neill and Craig Dourley all adding single tries.
Alex Smith was deadly with the boot too with nine successful conversions with Andy Owens knocking over the final kick.
Hornets face league winners, Folly Lane, in the final on Saturday with a 5.30pm kick-off at Pilkington Recs.
HFH U8 Reds 2 Crosfields U8 10 IN a bruising encounter against a well drilled Crosfields side, HFH started the game with only seven players meaning no substitutions.
In attack all the team gave 100% making good yards with Mathew Sinclair, Kobe McKinnon and George Sanderson leading down the middle and it was Cian Winstanley and James Prescott who managed to cross the line with a try apiece.
In defence, every player stepped their game up with Kian Rose making more tackles than he usually does and Sinclair (top tackler award) and Prescott amassing 35 tackles between them.
It was Aiden Clarke, however, whose tackling was outstanding and this earned him the man-of-the-match award. HFH U7 Reds 8 Woolston Rovers U7 Golds 5 THIS was a fantastic game of rugby as both teams put on a brilliant display with Woolston going ahead early on. But with encouragement and sheer ● determination the Hornets played some awesome rugby and soon pulled it back with tries from Charlie George with a hat-trick, Tom Smith and Alfie Grabaskey with two and Tyler Finnegan with one.
They also put on an excellent defensive display with Mason Rigby and Tyler Finnigan leading from the front with 30-plus tackles each.
Man-of-the-match honours went to Connor Farrell, the top tackler was Mason Rigby and the coaches’ award was awarded to Ellis Grady and Daniel Pickervance. HFH U9 Reds 2 Leigh East U9 8 THIS was a really good effort from the Reds in this tough clash.
The scoreline was only 3-1 to Leigh after 30 minutes and it was only in the last 10 minutes that the Hornets’ elite opponents got on top.
Top tackler Daniel Houghton opened the scoring for Hornets with a very determined run.
Captain for the day, Harvey Wycherley, led by example as always earning him coaches’ award. The best try of the whole game went to Lucas Tuihalamaka with some outstanding footwork and speed while man-of-the-match honours went to a very well-deserved Alfie Evans who is growing in confidence and is going to be a force to be reckoned with in the future.
HFH U8 Green 10 Portico Vine U8 Panthers 1 A VERY wet and muddy pitch in St Helens did not put the Greens off their game as they produced their best team performance so far.
Joe Bebbington and Joe Heaney each scored three times whilst the tackling in defence was brilliant, especially from Aaron Ward and Ellis Lloyd, who picked up the top tackler award.
Captain for the day was Ben Grady, who also finished off a superb team try for Hornets.
Will Newton picked up the man-ofthe-match award, showing some fearless running throughout and was commended by the Portico coaches as having a great attitude.
Matty Brown was given the coaches’ award for his leadership and teamwork, as well as showing good tackle technique in the encounter.
Moorfield U7 20 HFH U7 Greens 24 GREENS had a short trip down the road for this eagerly-anticipated evening encounter with local rivals Moorfield.
It was a game not to be missed as the home side gave a display of good open rugby which caught Greens by surprise but it was ‘Mr Dependable’ Luke Holland who showed the initiative with a drive to the line for the opening score.
Solid tackling from both sides proved to be the order of the day with outstanding work from Cobie Scott, Jacob Sinclair and Holland but it was in the second quarter that Niall Dourley showed his determination as he powered his way over the line carrying two Moorfield defenders en route.
Moorfield responded with a wellworked try before Isaac O’Brien showed his turn of speed to score in the corner for the first of his two tries.
His second was a brilliant solo effort from his own half with changes of direction cutting through the Moorfield defence.
The home side responded well as they added two more tries to their tally before Holland exploited a gap in the defence to score the second of his three tries earning him the man-of-the-match award.
The coaches’ award went to Isaac O’Brien while Jacob Sinclair took the parents’ trophy honours.