Ince Rose Bridge booked their place in the BARLA Cup Semi-Final with an impressive 40-12 victory over Skirlaugh, pulling clear in the second half after the visitors had briefly threatened to make a contest of this Quarter Final tie.
The hosts made the perfect start and were on the scoreboard after seven minutes when Eli Steinberg crossed for the opening try. Kieron Eccleston added the conversion to give Ince an early 6-0 advantage.
Skirlaugh responded well and levelled the scores ten minutes later when Josh Atkinson crossed and Josh Smith added the extras.
Ince gradually regained control and Callum Hughes restored their lead in the 23rd minute before Matthew Gaskell crossed six minutes later. Eccleston was unable to add either conversion, but Rose Bridge went into the break holding a 14-6 advantage.
The hosts made the ideal start to the second half when Steinberg grabbed his second try three minutes after the restart. Eccleston added the conversion to stretch the lead to 20-6 and from there the North West side began to take control.
Boyd Wilson crossed in the 52nd minute, with Eccleston again on target, before Brodie Butler added another try four minutes later as Skirlaugh struggled to contain the home side’s growing momentum.
Ince then produced the move of the match for their seventh try in the 59th minute. Rose Bridge moved the ball through plenty of hands as they advanced upfield, shifting play from the right wing across the pitch to release Daniel Dainty, who finished the slick move in the left-hand corner and made it 34-6.
Jack Morrison added another six minutes later after showing the instincts of a half-back. The forward capitalised on a clever little grubber kick, reacting quickest to the bouncing ball and grounding for Ince’s eighth try. Eccleston added his fourth conversion to move the hosts into an unassailable 40-6 lead.
Skirlaugh’s frustrations boiled over when substitute Freddie Watts was sin-binned for punching in the 69th minute, although the visitors did have the final say when Callum Smith crossed four minutes later and Josh Smith added his second conversion.
Ince comfortably saw out the closing stages to complete a convincing victory and set up an intriguing Semi-Final against Leigh Miners Rangers.
Full-time: Ince Rose Bridge 40 Skirlaugh 12
By Ste Beech
Photo Credit: 13 Pro Am RL
