Ince Rose Bridge captain Jack Morrison was left smiling at full time on Saturday as his side marched into the semi-finals of the BARLA National Cup.
They took on Skirlaugh, a side that was almost completely alien, and one they had not encountered in a number of years.
“We’ve not played them in a few years, so we didn’t know much about them… I just think the first half was an absolute battle. Could have gone either way.”
“I think we won that game from that first half performance really… second half we’ve tired them out and just again, completions… we dragged the game out to get the win.”
Two players stood out in Jack's eyes, veteran halfback Kieron Ecclestone, a box of tricks throughout and dynamo hooker Eli Steinberg.
First on the performance of Eccleston, who finished with a number of try assists to his name, Jack said, “He’s done it for the last two, three, four weeks really… He's our onfield general and he’s winding back the years. I can’t say that for myself — I think I’m getting older! But he’s winding the years back.”
Steinberg was always on hand to take Ince forward, a role he's developing into, and once again a player that really stepped up in a recent Rose Bridge victory at league leaders Orrell St James.
“He’s an ex Navy lad… been absolutely outstanding in recent weeks. He just led from the front, getting us forwards on the front foot, and he scored first try. It was a little show and go… He’s been outstanding.”
Ince Rose Bridge appear to be enjoying their run in the BARLA competition this year although Morrison can't understand teams entering and not fulfilling fixtures.
“You’re in a cup, you should be playing it… If some teams say they’re concentrating on league — don’t enter a cup then. That’s my opinion.”
Rose Bridge have shown steady improvement in recent weeks and have now won eight of their last ten games across all competitions.
“I think the lad's attitude has changed… I think we've found a bit of bottle, to put it in the nicest way. We’ve gone back to how we've been in the last couple of years, keeping it simple. I still think there's a lot of improvement in us but I think we've got that bottle back in us and hopefully carry on for the rest of the season”
“We’ve had a couple of games this year where we’ve not been up to par.”
Now, is a different story and with the league season coming to a close and play-offs around the corner, Ince Rose Bridge look primed to mount a challenge on all fronts.
National Conference League Results
National Conference – Cumbria
Seaton Rangers 22 – Distington 38
National Conference – North West
Clock Face Miners 28 – Saddleworth Rangers 22
National Conference – Yorkshire A
Keighley Albion 126 – Moldgreen 0
National Conference – Yorkshire B
Milford 68 – Hull Dockers 0
National Conference – South
Bristol All Golds 22 – Eastern Rhinos 28
BARLA National Cup
Leigh Miners Rangers 30 – Orrell St James 28
Ince Rose Bridge 40 – Skirlaugh 12
Crosfields 12 – West Hull 48
Featherstone Lions 52 – Woolston Rovers 18
By Dave Parkinson
Photo Credit: 13 Pro Am RL
