NWC Team Back on Track

By: Andy Houghton

Thatto Heath Crusaders 28-8 Halton Farnworth Hornets

After an up and down couple of weeks the NWC got themselves back on track with a commanding perfomance against a Farnworth side who offered little in attack other than the off-loading skills of big prop Tim Leech.

The Crusaders opened up the game well with the Forber brothers directing the way around the field and steadily building pressure on the Hornets line. That pressure told when captain Paul Rigby threw a dummy and dropped his shoulder to crash over, ten in from the right hand touchline. Sean Forber added the conversion to extend the lead to 6-0 and Heath never really looked back. Sean Forber got over for one of his own when he picked off a floating pass from the Halton loose-forward and raced 70-metres to dot down under the sticks, the conversion was a formality and Heath were in command at 12-0.

From that position however the foot seemed to come of the gas a little as a couple of attempt to force the final pass went to ground; mistakes that were compounded by other elementary errors too. Farnworth took advantage as hooker Gary Richardson send second-row Mark Atherton through a yawning hole on their right hand flank to score next to the posts, the conversion however struck the upright and rebounded away.

As Heath re-asserted their dominance the game took a rather nasty turn as Farnworth were penalised for raising the elbow in the tackle a small scuffle followed. From the penalty Heath progressed down field where Scott Thomas was lucky to survive with his features intact following an attempted high shot from a Farnworth player. The aftermath of the incident saw Farnworth's Graham Dunne sent-off for running in an punching and a penalty to Heath.

A knock-on followed as the ball was spread to the left and the chance to ram home the advantage seemed lost. However the Hornets managed to knock on immeadiatly and presented Heath with a scrum ten out. From the scrum Mike Forber found brother Sean who rocketed a ball to the rampaging Danny Brennan who crossed untouched for the Crusaders third touchdown. Forber's 100% record with the boot remained in tact and the score at the break was 18-4.

The second half was less of a spectacle as forced passes and dropped ball made for a scrappy affair. Heath were again first on the scoreboard as good work from replacement props Greg Mannion and debutant Tom Williams built the field position for the impressive Paul Gauchwin to get over in the corner despite the attention of two defenders. Forber couldn't add the extras but Heath were deservedly out of sight at 22-4. With a little more control and ruthlessness in the next period of play would have seen the scoreline rocket, but Heath seemed incapable of putting a sustained spell of pressure together as they had done early in the first half to such good effect.

The reintroduction of forwards Karl Sandford and James Clarke added the go-forward needed for Sean Forber to put Paul Rigby through for the captain to get over for a rare brace, the extras were added before there was time for a late consolation for the persevering Hornets to take home with them.

Best for Heath were Paul Rigby, Scott Thomas and James Clarke in defence, while Man of the Match Simon Holden and Paul Gauchwin were more than a handful going forward and Sean Forber's guile in the middle of the park had Farnworth mesmorised at times.

 

Thatto Heath Crusaders

1) Simon Holden

2) Adam Anders

3) Danny Brennan

4) Matty Thomas

5) Matty Bell

6) Sean Forber

7) Mike Forber

8) Dave Anders

9) Scott Thomas

10) Karl Sandford

11) James Clarke

12) Paul Gauchwin

13) Paul Rigby

14) Greg Mannion

15) Gareth Kenyon

16) Tom Williams

17) Danny Slater

 

Halton Farnworth Hornets

1) Gary Bargh

2) Kyle McGreevey

3) Ryan Kershaw

4) Andy Morrison

5) Kieron Hughes

6) Mike Bowles

7) Robbie Conroy

8) Tim Leech

9) Gary Richardson

10) Graham Dunne

11) Mike Riley

12) Mark Atherton

13) Stu Davies

14) Dan Harvey

15) Adam Sargent

16) Craig Cunningham

17) Andy Bowles

 

Half-Time:

Thatto Heath Crusaders 18-4 Halton Farnworth Hornets

Full-Time:

Thatto Heath Crusaders 28-8 Halton Farnworth Hornets

Hattons Solicitors Man of the Match - Simon Holden

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