Ince Rose Bridge swept aside Blackbrook in the BARLA National Cup on home soil. The hosts posted fifteen tries, including hat-tricks from Jamie Malone and the prolific Callum Hughes. It was a dominant display in the sun and there was no let up for Blackbrook.
A few weeks ago, Blackbrook produced an excellent performance to beat Rose Bridge in the league, but this time they were no match as Ince looked faster and stronger from the start.
Ince created the first opportunity after a superb run from Brodie Butler. The ball went left before an inside offload from outstanding Casey Shaw was fumbled over the line by Kieron Eccleston. It didn't take long for the hosts to score their first try when Shaw stole the ball in a on-on-one challenge from Dan Moss and strolled under the posts.
Tries then came at regular intervals as Ince Rose Bridge proved ruthless. Byron Aspinall wrestled over from dummy half. And when Eccleston released Shaw over 30 metres after Jack Morrison had scattered the defence, the hosts were well on their way. Next Butler and Hughes combined down the right and Malone supported for his first try. Then, a lightning break from Aspinall was turned into points by Peter Valentine, before Malone supported Eccleston for Bridge's sixth score.
Eccleston continued at the heart of a strong performance. His wide kick was taken on the bounce by Hughes who had enough time to squeeze in at the corner. Eccleston converted on the stroke of half-time to make it 40-0.
Kallem Rogers opened the second half scoring for the hosts with a lung busting effort over 40 metres. The scoring rate slowed for a time with Blackbrook offering more in the middle. A particularly dangerous run from Connor Morley almost posted points for the visitors. And valiant defence from Butler and Malone forced the Brook second row out of play. Ince Rose Bridge found their groove again when Aspinall scored from close range.
Shaw then added his second after Mason Fillingham bust the line and Eccleston handed on, and the stand-off added another try assist moments later with a kick that was taken at pace by Valentine for his second. Malone zipped away for his third as Blackbrook fell further behind, despite the best efforts of industrious prop Ryan Briggs and halfback Andrew Smith.
Eventually the visitors built some pressure and there was a strong finish in the right corner from Josh Davies. Moss converted from the touchline and added a second goal in quick succession. This came when Harrison Dean took Smith's pass to sail over the line. There was still enough time for Matt Gaskell to combine with Butler to get Hughes his third try.
Finally, in the dying seconds, Mason Fillingham crowned an excellent performance from the hosts with an 80-metre intercept, and Eccleston completed a twelve goal haul to help Ince Rose Bridge into Round 2.
Full-time: Ince Rose Bridge 84 Blackbrook 12
By Dave Parkinson
Photo Credit: 13 Pro Am Community RL
