Clock Face Miners produced a dominant nine-try display to defeat Maryport 52–14 at Miners Crawford Street home in both teams first Shield Cross-Conference Play-Off game.
The hosts made a flying start, with winger Luke Leyden crossing beneath the posts after five minutes. The conversion put Clock Face 6–0 ahead.
Maryport responded with an unconverted try from Luke Baker five minutes later, but Clock Face quickly regained control. Loose forward Joshua Morgan powered over in the 13th minute before centre Karle Hunt sliced through the defence to score beneath the posts after 28 minutes.
Clock Face struck again almost immediately, Declan Rigby stepping through the Maryport line to extend the advantage. The conversion made it 24–4, a lead the Clock Face carried into half-time.
Maryport had been bolstered by some great work by Hooker Ethan Williams and prop Luke Baker making good yards but found it difficult to break the Clock Face defence.
The hosts resumed in the same dominant fashion as Ben Daniels broke from midfield and found Hunt in support, allowing him to claim his second try of the afternoon. Oscar Hardman converted to extend the lead to 30–4.
Maryport briefly stemmed the tide with a converted try from half back Craig Foster in the 52nd minute, but Clock Face responded within two minutes when Leyden crossed in the corner for his second try, although the conversion went wide.
Clock Face remained firmly in control, and this time Hunt broke through and released Daniels, who finished beneath the posts, with Hardman adding the extras. Four minutes later, Hardman made a break of his own before sending Daniels over for his second try.
Leighton Hosker completed the home side’s scoring in the 75th minute, touching down beneath the posts. Hardman converted for his eighth successful kick of the afternoon, taking Clock Face beyond the 50-point mark.
Maryport centre Danny Herbert added a consolation try with the final play, but it could not detract from a commanding Clock Face performance as they secured an emphatic 52–14 victory.
A young Maryport side had some tireless work from their forwards and scrum half Lewis Moore was outstanding in what was a very hard-fought game.
The two meet again next week in the next round of the Shield with Maryport having to win by more than 38 points to progress.
Full-time: Clock Face Miners 52 Maryport 14
By Ste Beech
Photo Credit: 13 Pro-Am RL
