Ashton Bears had a busy end to the week playing not one, but two games in the space of 42 hours in NCRL's North West Conference.
They gave a spirited display in defeat at league leaders Orrell St James on Thursday evening before a travelling over to Clock Face Miners on Saturday.
Here the Bears returned to winning ways, posting eight tries. Five of them came in an outstanding second half that saw the visitors sweep away from Clock Face with pace and panache.
Early on there was little to choose between the sides with hits piling in on the hard surface. Then after 14 minutes Clock were first on the scoresheet through Matty Roberts with Oscar Hardman adding the first of four goals.
Ashton responded quickly when a measured kick by Tom Hopkins bounced awkwardly for Josh Naylor, who picked up an injury in the process, and the ball eventually reached Dan Hill for a diving finish. Harry Ireland converted and it was level.
Dec Rigby was lively around the ruck for Clock Face and found a way through after 25 minutes with Hardman once more goaling, but Ashton struck back eight minutes later when Kian Tudor finished well with Ireland's second goal drawing the teams level.
Second row Eccleston was then sinbinned for Clock Face in the latter stages of the first half after a high tackle and the Bears took advantage with a second try from Hill, fast hands stretching the defence before Hill cut in from the left. This time the goal was missed but Ashton held a slender 12-16 advantage at half-time.
Early in the second half Clock Face looked dangerous and opened the scoring after 46 minutes when Oscar Hardman supported a break on the right, and converted to nudge the host's in front.
With such a busy schedule you might be forgiven for thinking Ashton would lapse further, but the try seemed to motivate them and between the 54th and 71st minute, they were dominant, producing a brilliant spell that yielded five tries.
The first two went the way of experienced halfback Tom Hopkins as he trailed the inside following breaks out wide. Hooker Luke Parkinson saw a try awarded that his efforts were deserved shortly after the hour and a clever kick from Hopkins was grounded under the posts by Connor Ashley.
Centre Luke Sutcliffe then stood up his opposite number and raced away for the final Bears score with Ireland nudging over the conversion to complete a seven goal haul.
There was still enough time near the end for Clock to add their fourth try through Ben Daniels but it couldn't take the gloss off Ashton's best half of the season.
Full-time: Clock Face Miners 24 Ashton Bears 46
By Dave Parkinson
Photo Credit: 13 Pro Am RL
