01 NOV 2008

Pilkington Recs 44 Widnes Moorfield 8

Lancashire Cup Semi-Final

RECS powered through to their first Lancashire Cup final in more than 20 years following a commanding second half performance.

At the heart of the victory was lively teenage scrum half Danny Lynch, who was hugely impressive after being handed a starting berth by Pilks coach John Ledger.

The diminutive number seven was the first tryscorer of the semi-final after following up skipper Ste Rawsthorne’s reverse grubber kick to touch down under the posts. Rawsthorne goaled, but the Widnesians - who were arguably the dominant side for significant parts of the first half - hit back when second row Chris Freeman went over.

Elusive full back James Truscott was posing Pilks plenty of problems, but despite attacking down the City Road slope the visitors could not breach Recs’ tryline again.

They were made to pay moments before half time after a Mike Loughlin surge and offload sent in second row Mark Briody, which was goaled by Rawsthorne to leave the half time score 12-4.

The Widnes outfit refused to lie down and three minutes into the second half centre Kershaw surged down the touchline and dived in at the corner.

 The team celebrate the semi-final victory                               

However, this only served to spark Recs to move through the gears and hooker Peter Cahalin, whose influence on the game was growing, forced his way over from close-range.

Again Rawsthorne converted, and suddenly Pilks were in full flow as the skipper put John Rees in space and he found James Lacey, who finished clinically.                                        

Next to register a try was Mark Ashton, before Cahalin made a half break and produced a magnificent offload that sent Rees striding to the tryline. Lynch goaled superbly from wide out.

With the open rugby now flowing, wingers Sean Forber and Mark Rigby scored to round off fine handling moves, with Lynch adding another goal, to seal a win that puts Pilks in their first Lancashire Cup final since the 1985/1986.

The Commhoist man of the match was strong running centre Nigel Pratt, while Lynch was named the C&S Tyres players MOM.

The final between Pilkington Recs and Halton Simms Cross is due to take place over the festive period.