1st Team 3rd Nov 2007 Pilkington Recs 10 - 24 Bank Quay Bulls THE sheer size and strength of the formidable Bulls crushed Recs’ hopes of winning through to the Lancashire Cup final.
The Warrington outfit inflicted the home side’s first defeat of the season, and disappointing Pilks can have few complaints.
They may instead rue being sucked into a forward wrestle with bigger opponents, instead of opting to play the open rugby that has so troubled the Bulls on past visits to City Road.
Recs start to this clash was flat and anxious, but when presented with a gift that may have settled their nerves, they couldn’t take it.A kick down the sideline was fluffed by the visitors and fell to the feet of the tall scrum half Ryan Rogers, who dribbled the ball to the line but knocked on as he attempted to ground it.
From then, Bank Quay came strong with Lee Caldwell and Nick Braide crossing for close range tries, the second goaled by Phil Braddish.
Recs, with the slope a first half advantage, were guilty of too many dropped balls, and also suffered injury blows with forwards Rick Shaw and John Rees both limping off.
When stand off Jamie Smith did pierce the defensive line he was shut out magnificently by Bulls full back Ryan Fieldhouse.
Trailing 10-0 at the break and attacking up the slope it was truly an uphill task, one made even steeper when the Bulls went in again for two more tries, by Steve Bord and Caldwell.
The visitors’ failure to convert left the score at 18-0, and Recs hopes were raised when tireless captain Rawsthorne scrambled over.
But they were shattered when the Bulls carved open the middle before feeding Fieldhouse, who finished with blistering pace from 40 yards. In the closing stages, Mark Ashton did touch down a Rawsthorne kick, but it was little consolation.
Rawsthorne was the Commhoist man of the match and Ashton took the Taylors Taxis award.
| 2nd Team 10th Nov 200 Hindpool 38 - 6 Pilkington Recs A Another bad day for coach Dave Archer who had to bring himself out of retirment from an eight year absence, a slow start again affected Recs who were 5 tries down at half time but did have the consolation of scoring the games best try after veteran Archer kicked from a scrum and winger Chris Rees chased on to score despite the attentions of the home prop.
Recs tackled well despite only travelling to cumbria with only the bare 13,and good performances were put in by mom Craig Holden, Andy Parr and Keith Long with Dave Archer showing some good touches despite his time away from playing.
Recs a have the chance to put the league troubles behind them this week as they are in NWC cup action versus Leigh East.
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