A powerful first half paved the way for Cross Conference Championship glory as Ince Rose Bridge proved too strong for Blackbrook.
Both sides picked up league points against each other during the North West Conference season but it was Ince Rose Bridge that claimed two ries in the first eight minutes to take an early stranglehold. The game was less than a minute old when Keiron Eccleston was put under huge pressure by Conner Morley. It resulted in a kick that bounced up in favour of the onrushing Kyle Malone who sold a dummy to turn Dan Moss inside and out and power clear just ahead of a determined chase by Josh Langley.
Malone went close to adding to the tally with another break down the left. They did score again when Eccleston launched another kick skyward, outstanding second row Casey Shaw took the catch, popped the ball out to Gareth Jones who sent the ball back infield and Shaw touched down for Eccleston to add the first of five goals.
Rose Bridge had their third try after 19 minutes when an attacking scrum saw Kyle Malone charge within twenty metres of the line. Shaw then hit the inside pass like a train and cleverly offloaded for more swift hands by Jamie Malone getting Jones in at the corner. Blackbrook finally looked to be coming into the contest just before the half hour with Mike Wynn moving play left but good defensive pressure on Moss saw the ball pop up and Mason Fillingham ran clear for Eccleston to add his second goal.
Five minutes later, Brook responded, and it was a good move down the left. Wynn and Moss were heavily involved before Harrison Dean offloaded to Langley. He passed back inside with Lucas Coan doing his level best to disrupt only for the ball to break free, and Moss was on the spot to run over and convert his own try. Peter Valentine added a fifth try for Ince Rose Bridge with a superb line that took him into the corner, and Eccleston converted. The veteran Rose Bridge half back then received a penalty before half-time for a late challenge and put the goal over to make it 6-28 at the interval.
The second half brought plenty of spirit from Blackbrook, with James Whalley and retiring Cam Tunstall working hard, while Morley had a try denied when the ball was stolen over the line on the hour. An attacking scrum from Blackbrook looked to have created an opportunity, only for Fillingham to step in for a timely intercept and, in the last fifteen minutes, Rose Bridge rediscovered their game rhythm. Good passes from Matty Gaskell and Mason Fillingham got Eccleston involved and his clever step created space for a booming pass right for Calum Hughes to score in the corner. There was further gloss added a couple of minutes later when Gaskell kicked right, Hughes collected and handed infield for Lucas Coan to claim a deserved try. Fittingly, Eccleston closed the scoring with the conversion from wide out, and Ince Rose Bridge could enjoy their victory.
One more game lies ahead for Ince Rose Bridge, when they take on West Hull in two weeks time at the One Bore Stadium, Castleford in the BARLA National Cup Final.
Blackbrook: Dan Moss, Josh Langley, Jordan McManus, Harrison Dean, Luke Ward; Mike Wynn, Dan Ganson; James Whalley, Paul Nash, Ryan Briggs, Josh Wilson, Conner Morley, Reece Jackson. Subs: Aaron Hyland, Cam Tunstall, Luke Marsh, Joe Woods.
Try: Moss (35).
Goal: Moss 1/1.
Ince Rose Bridge: Jamie Malone, Gareth Jones, Kyle Malone, Lucas Coan, Calum Hughes; Kieron Eccleston, Mason Fillingham; Reece Cunningham, Eli Steinburg, Ellis Tindall, Casey Shaw, Peter Valentine, Matty Gaskell. Subs: Jack Morrison, Kallum Rodgers, Callum Wilson, Lee Jones.
Tries: K Malone (1), Shaw (8), G Jones (19), Fillingham (30), Valentine (38), Hughes (68), Coan (71).
Goals: Eccleston 5/8.
Blackbrook 6 Ince Rose Bridge 38
By Dave Parkinson
Pic Credit: 13 Pro-Am Community RL
