Ince Rose Bridge won an excellent contest on Maundy Thursday night in the Impact Performance National Conference League. Games between hosts Pilkington Recs and visitors have always been entertaining and this was no different.
In the first twenty minutes Pilks bossed position and territory but had little to show for their efforts with errors being made at crucial times, while when the backline for Rose Bridge clicked, they looked a different class altogether.
Ince Rose Bridge opened scoring in the fourth minute when slick play on the right resulted in Ben Holcroft going in at the corner. Ben Cottrill couldn't goal for the visitors and as the possession swung heavily in the hosts' favour - five penalties and a missed kick to touch, Recs finally got over the line after fifteen minutes when Andy Morris surged over but Kyran Knapper couldn't goal. Recs continued to dominate for a few minutes before Matt Gaskell split the defence, Holcroft continued the run and Jordan Blakeley supported him for a flowing score beneath the posts and Rob Valentine converted to make it 4-10.
Moments after, the visitors crafted another chance but Blakeley was denied a second due to a forward pass. With Jack Morrison causing an impact, Pilks slowed things down as best they could but conceded a penalty on the half hour which Valentine goaled. Next came a sin-bin for Bridge's experienced stand-off Kie Eccleston when he pushed an opponent in the face following a spilled ball, but the hosts couldn't take any advantage despite some honest graft from their trio of brothers - Luke, Tez and Phil Riley, who were solid all game.
The otherwise outstanding Brodie Butler knocked on over the line for the visitors and when Pilks were penalised for a ball steal in front of the posts, Valentine stepped up to goal and ensure a 4-14 half-time lead.
Into the second half, Pilks had the better of the opening but their handling let them down in promising positions and Ince Rose Bridge showed them how it was done in the 54th minute when Pete Valentine crossed and Rob added his fourth goal. A couple of minutes later the visitors looked likely to extend their advantage when Pete Valentine broke through the middle but his pass intended for support was wayward and the chance was lost.
Tom Connick gave the hosts hope when he scythed through from 15 metres in the 59th minute and Knapper goaled to close the deficit to ten points and it was now Ince's turn to show resilience as they somehow held Morris up over the line in the 64th minute and more scramble denied a better Pilkington Recs. Phil Riley proved a real dynamo for Recs throughout with a non-stop performance across loose-forward, hooker, and halfback and went over for a deserved try after 75 minutes which proved too far out for Knapper to goal and Rose Bridge then slowed things down in the last few minutes to take the 14-20 win to leave both sides with three wins from their first five games.
On Easter Saturday one game took place in the NCL Premier Division between Lock Lane and Hunslet ARLFC. Skipper Ben Shulver proved a major influence for Hunslet, scoring a hat-trick as they built a 44-0 lead before late tries from Mason Hare and Rob Matamosi, both goaled by Hare, added respectability to the score.
Hunslet's other points came courtesy of tries from Jack Briggs (2), Craig McShane, Harry Dodd and Tyler Dargan with halfbacks Jordan Gale (1) and Danny Rowse (5) adding goals.
Results - Thursday 6 April
Division One
- Pilkington Recs 14 Ince Rose Bridge 20
Results - Saturday 8 April
Premier Division
- Lock Lane 12 Hunslet ARLFC 44
By Dave Parkinson
