Dream Team for the season as selected by TRP correspondents
LANCASHIRE team manager Steve Rigby lauded Lancashire’s dominant first-half performance in their win over Eastern Counties in the Bill Beaumont County Championship.
A five-try first-half gave 24-time winners Lancashire a stunning 35-0 lead at the break, before Eastern Counties showed some signs of a fightback with three tries in 13 minutes.
Lancashire held on to maintain their lead at the top of Division 1 North.
“We had a fantastic firsthalf,” said Lancashire boss Rigby. “We stuck to our game plan extremely well and they were shell shocked at the way that we converted our tries.”
“I think it is incredible that we can rely on a squad of 40 players, who are all hoping to play, to get results.
“We did tire in the second-half, they picked their game up and they deserved their bonus point. We tired because of how we played in the first 60 minutes.”
Eastern Counties team manager David Masdin praised the efforts of his young side despite the poor opening 40 minutes.
“The first period was disappointing, we found it difficult to stop Lancashire in possession,” said Masdin. “We have four U20’s players so we have a very bright future.
“We won the second-half and picked up a bonus point by moving Mike Stanway and Matt Hema who put in fantastic performances.
“If you give 35 points away in the first-half you are never going to win.”
Despite the missing Sale FC contingent, the reigning champions set the tempo early on, claiming the opening try inside three minutes through Joe Mills’ powerful run. Sedgley’s Steve Collins added the extras.
Lancashire’s dominance continued three minutes later when winger Jordan Dorrington touched under the posts following Collins’ simple pick out, before even more sloppy Eastern Counties defending handed the home side a third try through Matt Lamprey.
Eastern Counties were truly overwhelmed before the break, conceding twice through Mills and Dorrington’s second tries of the half to fall further behind and hand Lancashire a bonus point.
The fly-half continued to deliver, kicking his fifth
conversion four minutes before the break as Lancashire established a comfortable lead.
Steve Hipwell restored some order for Eastern Counties on 45 minutes, before a marauding run from Matt Hema further reduced the deficit. Ben Penfold added the extras.
Lancashire swiftly broke back when Collins scored and kicked the points, before a remarkable run from Mike Stanway set up Owain Collard for the visitors third.
Replacement Scott Armstrong brought up Lancs final try as Penfold and Mike Stanway’s late tries rescued a bonus point.