8th November 2008

AN astonishing clash at City Road was settled by an injury time try by winger Sean Forber and conversion by ice cool skipper Ste Rawsthorne that sealed a rousing fightback by Recs.

With around 12 minutes to go Pilks trailed by 14 points and appeared destined for a first defeat of the season, but somehow they turned the contest around to sink the reigning NWC Premier Division champions.

Contests between these sides are usually free-scoring, and this was no different with the tries flowing.

Rawsthorne was the first to register, scooping up a loose ball and diving under the post for a try that he converted.

But the powerful Bulls hit back with centre Ste Caldwell proving too strong for the home defence for a converted try.

Recs centre Andy Lyons then crossed for the home side, as he took the ball from a scrum and jinked past several defenders.

Rawsthorne converted but the Bulls began to take a firm grip, and with Recs’ defence flimsy, Phil Braddish, Dave Yii and Jim Astbury all crossed, giving the visitors a 12-20 half time lead.

After the break Recs came again, with winger James Lacey intercepting and racing 70 yards for a try, which Rawsthorne goaled.

But the heavyweight Bulls remained on top and converted tries from Caldwell and Ste Fisher - followed by Nigel Pratt being sin binned for Pilks - left the visitors with a firm grip.

Ryan Rogers sneaked a try back, but another score by Yii appeared to have sewn up the game.

However, after the outstanding Lyons had scored his second, and then the Bulls had a player sin binned, suddenly Recs had belief.

In the 78th minute Pratt broke clear and timed a pass perfectly to send Lacey sprinting in from 60metres to leave the score 34-38.

Then in injury time, Lyons surged through before Rawsthorne carried on the attack and sent Forber over.

The captain then held his nerve to convert from the left of the posts to give his side the lead.

Still there was drama, as the Bulls got the ball back from the restart and crossed the line only to be held up by full back Mark Ashton and John Rees.

Rawsthorne was the Commhoist man of the match and Ashton the C&S Tyres players’ player of the match.