1st Team 

 

27th Oct 2007

 

FOR the first time this season Pilks were asked some serious questions, but they came up with the answers by clinching a thrilling victory after overturning an 18-0 deficit.
Rarely have John Ledger's unbeaten outfit trailed this season, but a sloppy start saw them fall behind in a fixture switched late to the Warrington side's ground.
Two tries by stand off Chris Forster, both sparked by chip kicks over the visitors defence, and a third by loose forward Jono Smith, all converted by hooker Peter Leonard, saw Rylands build a convincing lead.
Recs start had been desperately ragged and scoring chances went astray until the dying moments of the first half.
This time it was a Recs chip that sparked a try, with skipper Ste Rawsthorne's kick gathered in by Mark Rigby, who sent in full back Mark Ashton.
That try fired a comeback and hooker Peter Cahalin dived in after the break following a strong surge by sub Nick Cammann.
Barry Pope's second conversion cut the gap to six.
But Recs needed an immense covering tackle from sub Andy Burns to prevent the scoreline stretching beyond them.
Then, following a tremendous break by Jamie Smith, Pope crossed from a Ryan Rogers pass and goaled to drag Recs level.
Rylands responded with a Forster drop goal, but ice-cool Pope then held his nerve to convert a penalty from wide out and edge Recs back in front.
The outstanding Cahalin dived in after taking Rawsthorne's offload around his ankles and Pope's conversion gave his side a seven-point advantage.
Rylands responded with a converted try that narrowed the gap to one, but Recs hung on.
The Commhoist man of the match was Pope, with Andy Burns taking the Taylor's Taxis award.

20th Oct 2007

 

Recs stroll into semis
Dominant Recs steamrolled their local rivals inside the first half hour as they recorded an impressive victory in the Lancashire Cup quarter final.
It was a reality check for Haydock, who have been progressing well in NWC Division One this season, but could not cope with the tempo set by unbeaten Pilks.
In the opening set of six Recs stand off Jamie Smith powered in for the first of his four tries after fine approach work by centre Mark Rigby.
The Yickers were making errors Recs capitalised, with Nigel Pratt brilliantly taking an up and under on the run to touchdown.
Scrum half Ryan Rogers sent Andy Burns over from close range, before Smith went in after stealing the ball one-on-one.
Haydock's mistakes played into Recs hands and winger Andy Lyons intercepted before dashing 60-metres to score.
Centre Darryl Rotherham finally gave the home contingent on the touchline some positives, finishing a fine move involving Tim Critchley and Matty Foley But with Barry Pope converting all five first half tries for Pilks, a score of 4-30 reflected the gulf, and the tries continued to flow in the second half.
First skipper Ste Rawsthorne charged in, and then Lyons scored from another long-range surge.
Big Haydock second rower Gareth Bourhill replied, following fine work by Haughey, but Smith then went over for his hat trick.
Wayne Bloor grabbed a deserved score, but a Rigby try, following a flick pass by John Ford, and Smith's fourth.
Pilks' Commhoist and Taylor's Taxis man of the match awards went to centre Nigel Pratt, with Smith and Peter Cahalin also outstanding.
Haydock's St Helens Windows Man of the Match was Ash Carroll with Foley and Haughey in contention. Tuesday's training is at Haydock C and B 6.45 pm start.
Recs will face Bank Quay Bulls in the semi-final at City Road on Saturday, November 3, kick off 2pm.
Ashton Bears and Wigan St Cuthberts contest the other semi-final 

 

6th Oct 2007

Rarely did Recs ever look in danger of losing this fixture, but they were some way short of hitting top gear in this scrappy performance.
Coming into this clash Pilks had racked up more than 200 points in three previous games and the lack of competition in recent weeks was perhaps a reason for an uninspired performance against a workmanlike St Cuthberts.
From the outset Recs dropped too much ball and found themselves behind early to a St Cuthberts penalty goal as the visitors held the upper hand territorially.
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The home side did take the lead on their first major attack when stocky centre Nigel Pratt sidestepped his way past the defence and crashed over.
In loose-forward Ste Rawsthorne Recs had the game's outstanding player and St Cuthberts struggled to contain his direct charges and offloads.
But all too often the home side failed to capitalise on their skipper's good work. It needed a real moment of quality for the next score, sparked by full back Mark Ashton.
His dash from midfield split the Wigan outfit's defence and he fed supporting scrum half Andy Fairhurst, who in turn fed winger Chris Bailey, who rounded off a 50-yard move beneath the posts.
Barry Pope goaled to make it 10-2 and then substitute Danny Davies forced his way over for a try with his first touch of the ball.
Half-time saw the score 14-2, but sloppy Recs did not make the most of the chances in the second half that would have rammed home their clear superiority.
The home defence was once again exemplary and for a second week running they did not concede a try.
It was a different story in attack though as frustration mounted, and it took the introduction of tall half back Ryan Rogers from the bench to give Recs a lift.
He intercepted the ball deep inside his own half and sprinted in from 70 yards for the match-deciding try that was converted by Pope.
Then, in the closing stages, hooker Peter Cahalin supplied the pass that sent in centre Andy Lyons for a try wide out.
Rawsthorne was the Commhoist and Taylors Taxi man of the match, while hard-working displays also came from forwards Stuart Mansfield and Andy Burns.