Blackbrook swept into the NCRL Cross Conference Play-Off Semi-Finals with a convincing 40-4 victory over Keighley Albion at Boardmans Lane, St Helens, running in seven tries to put the previous week’s disappointment behind them.
Kevin Cooke, Connor Morley and Josh Langley each claimed two tries, while Cam Tunstall-Muil also crossed and Danny Moss landed six conversions. Evan Jones scored Albion’s only try as the visitors’ season ended at the quarter-final stage.
The home side made an early impression, Kevin Cooke opening the scoring after seven minutes and Moss adding the conversion. Morley followed with Blackbrook’s second try in the 17th minute, again converted by Moss, to establish a 12-0 advantage.
Albion reduced the deficit when Jones touched down in the 25th minute, but Blackbrook responded with two converted tries before the interval. Langley crossed on 31 minutes and Kevin Cooke completed his double four minutes later, with Moss successful on both occasions to make it 24-4 at half-time.
That burst left Albion with a substantial task after the break, and Blackbrook extended their lead through Morley’s second try in the 50th minute. The conversion was missed, leaving the score at 28-4.
Tunstall-Muil added the hosts’ sixth try after 62 minutes, with Moss converting, before Langley completed his brace five minutes from time. Moss’s sixth successful conversion rounded off the scoring, while Blackbrook kept Albion scoreless throughout the second half.
Blackbrook head coach Paul Gartland felt his players had shown a much better approach following their defeat by Newsome the previous week. He said the improvement had been evident in training and that he could sense a sharper mood even before the warm-up.
Gartland explained that Blackbrook had worked on moving the ball towards the edges and making use of their strength in the back row. With players returning from injury and training numbers encouraging, he was pleased to see his side finding form in the closing stages of the season.
“If you’re going to be playing well, it’s probably better playing well at the tail end of the season,” he said.
For Albion head coach Danny Snowden, there was disappointment at the result but considerable pride in his players’ efforts across the campaign. He credited Blackbrook’s performance and accepted that the home side had won fairly, while describing the strain that injuries, work commitments and holidays had placed on his squad.
“Nobody likes to lose the last game, but I’m super proud of the boys,” Snowden said.
He pointed to the club’s junior development as a source of optimism, saying around 70 per cent of the players involved had come through its junior system. The match also marked the end of his spell coaching open-age rugby, although he will remain involved at Albion and focus on the girls’ teams.
Albion prop Jak Adams shared the frustration of falling short after the club’s recent progress, but acknowledged Blackbrook’s superiority on the day. “We came up against a better team,” he said. Adams also highlighted the strength of Albion’s age-group teams as an important foundation for the club’s future.
For Blackbrook, attention now turns to the semi-finals after an emphatic win built on a commanding first half and a second-half shutout. Gartland said his side would give the next challenge “a good crack” as they look to extend their season.
Blackbrook: Tries: Kevin Cooke 2 (7, 35), Morley 2 (17, 50), Josh Langley 2 (31, 75), C. Tunstall-Muil (62). Goals: Danny Moss 6.
Keighley Albion: Try: Evan Jones (25).
Half-time: Blackbrook 24 Keighley Albion 4
Full-time: Blackbrook 40 Keighley Albion 4
By Ste Beech
Photo Credit: 13 Pro Am Community RL
