1st Team
29-Sep-2007 Higginshaw 4 Pilkington Recs 68
RECS eased into the third round of the Lancashire Cup with another heavy victory, though the tussle in Oldham was packed with needle.
Early tries by full back Mark Ashton and Barry Pope saw Pilks build up an early advantage, though the home side got on the scoreboard through two penalty goals.
There was clearly a gulf in class between Premier Division outfit Recs and division Higginshaw, but the Oldham side’s heavyweight pack refused to simply roll over.
This created a fiery encounter, and Recs became increasingly frustrated at the referee’s performance, with hooker Peter Cahalin sin binned for dissent.
Nevertheless, swift hands along the line saw Andy Lyons send in winger Chris Bailey for a fine try.
The winger then turned provider, breaking clear before sending Lyons to the tryline. A second-try for Pope, who kicked two goals, gave the visitors a 24-4 half time lead.
The fiery clash heated up in the opening stages of the second half and Recs, believing foul play was going unpunished by the referee, lost their discipline.
First John Rees was sin-binned and then substitute Danny Davies was sent off for dissent.
At one stage Recs only had 11-men on the field and they appeared in danger of being sucked into a scrap, but eventually they regained some composure and from then on the tries flowed.
First stand off Jamie Smith stepped through for a try, then further scores came from Cahalin and sub Ryan Rogers.
Lyons and Ashton both demonstrated blistering pace to register braces and Bailey showed his finishing skills to complete a hat trick.
Long striding Rogers – who kicked six conversions – then weaved his way past several defenders for his maiden try at first team level.
That feat was matched by Chris Rees – younger brother of John – who galloped in for a long-range score on his debut.
After rattling up more than 200 points in their last three fixtures Recs are likely to face a sterner examination at Wigan St Cuthberts on Saturday.
Jamie Smith was the Commhoist man of the match and John Ford claimed the Taylors Taxis award
22-Sep-2007 Pilkington Recs 52 Barrow Island 18
A COMMANDING second-half display ensured Recs recorded another resounding home victory, but they will need to avoid the complacency evident in the opening 40 if they are to challenge for honours.
Tries by hooker Peter Cahalin and centre Andy Lyons, after excellent build-up by winger James Lacey, gave Pilks an early 10-0 advantage as they attacked down the City Road slope.
But a defensive lapse allowed space for Barrow's pacy centre to reply with a fine try. Stocky home skipper Ste Rawsthorne showed his strength by breaking through several defenders to touch down for his side's third try.
But with the score at 16-4 Recs dropped their guard, allowing Barrow to run in three tries down the home side's right channel and take a two-point lead.
Had the visitors possessed a sure-footed goal kicker, the damage could have been far greater for Recs, who trailed 18-16.
A blistering burst of speed to the line by Lyons from 30-yards out put Pilks back in front, but coach John Ledger was clearly unhappy with the first half sloppiness.
Strong words at half-time had the desired effect, with Recs' pack visibly lifting several gears after the break.
And the improvement brought a rapid reward, as Jamie Smith sent Nigel Pratt clear and the centre passed on for Mark Ashton to score.
Ashton then turned provider with a short pass to send the hard-working Shaw crashing over from close range. And Shaw quickly added another, finishing off a free-flowing move involving Danny Davies, Rawsthorne and Smith.
Further touchdowns by Smith and a brace from Andy Burns (2) - the second following a 60-yard burst - completed Recs' try haul, with Barry Pope kicking five goals and debutant scrum-half Ryan Rogers landing one.
Burns took both the Commhoist and Taylors Taxis man-of-the-match awards for Recs, pushed closely by Shaw and Lyons.
15-Sep-2007 Pilkington Recs 106 Heysham Atoms 4
RECS racked up a points avalanche against inferior opposition in the first round of the Lancashire Cup.
The home side, who were missing several regulars, blitzed the North West Counties third division outfit, with nineteen tries.
Winger Barry Pope bagged a personal tally of 54-points with six tries and 15 goals, to register what is believed to be a modern-day Recs record.
First half tries came from Nigel Pratt, Gaz Philbin, Chris Bailey, Jamie Smith, Andy Lyons (2) Mark Ashton, Peter Cahalin and Pope (2). Seven conversions by the winger made the score 54-0 at half-time.
Second half tries came from Danny Davies, Andy Burns, James Lacey and while Ashton crossed for another two to complete a hat trick.
Pope, who took the Commhoist and Taylors Taxis man of the match awards, scored another four and kicked eight goals to pass the half century mark.
Heysham never gave in despite the heavily one-sided contest and scored a late try.
08-Sep-2007 Pilkington Recs 16 Simms Cross 16
Recs made another strong start against the League and National Cup champions. Playing down the City Road slope Pilks raced into a 6 point advantage when Jamie Smith sent Ted Rawsthorne under the posts directly from a scrum after 5 minutes.
A Barry Pope penalty strtched the lead to 8 points after 10 minutes and the Glassmen were looking good for their lead.
Simms Cross responded strongly however, and their powerhouse centre broke through 2 tackles to race 30 yards scoring in the corner.
With half time approaching Mark Ashton intercepted a loose ball and raced 70 yards, giving Recs a 14 - 4 half time advantage.
The loss of skipper 'Sam' Rawsthorne with a head wound at the break proved to be a turning point in the game his powerful style is what was needed as the Widnesians built up momentum down the slope and Recs energy levels getting sapped.
It was on 55 min that the Recs defence finally broke when a line ball sent the opposing prop through 10 yards out with Full-back Ted Rawsthorne unable to stop the huge man.
With 20 minutes to go the game was held up for 15 min after an unfortunate injury saw a Simms Cross player taken to hospital with a suspected dislocated knee.
Recs found their second wind but breaks from Ashton and centre Nigel Pratt saw the ball to ground and tries go begging and a spell of sustained pressure was rewarded with a solitary Pope penalty restoring a 6 point advantage.
At this point the game took a nasty turn, with the referee getting heckled by the voiciferous away support, and the Simms players contemplating a second consecutive defeat, a scuffle broke out at the play-the-ball resulting in the Simms full-back recieving the Red Card for headbutting and Recs Rick Shaw spending time in the sin-bin for retaliation.
With the clock running down, the Simms hooker spotted an opportunity from the play the ball and bounced of the defender to score by the posts, the conversion levelling the scores.
Two attempts at a drop goal by Recs were unsuccessful and the game finished with both sides contemplating what could have been
The Commmhoist MOM was Mark Ashton with Peter Cahalin taking the Taylors Taxis award.
01-Sep-2007 Orrell St James 14 Pilkington Recs 46
RECS made a confident start to the new campaign with an emphatic ten-try win over an Orrell outfit much weakened from previous seasons.
Hat-tricks from full back Mark Ashton and centre Mark Rigby as well as a brace from outstanding prop Neil Morris were the highlight for Pilks.
Skipper Ste Rawsthorne engineered the first try when he jinked through the middle of the home defence and sent Morris beneath the posts.
Fellow prop Rick Shaw was next on the scoresheet from close-range taking an offload by second row John Rees.
The visitors’ mobile pack was dominant, giving half backs Andy Fairhurst and Jamie Smith freedom to launch attacks.
Smith created the third try, as his incisive reverse pass sent full back Ashton racing in. Rigby then crossed on the left flank following swift hands.
A defensive lapse allowed St James to register their first try, but Recs regained command as Rigby again touched down on the left. With Barry Pope converting three of the first half tries, John Ledger’s side had a 26-4 lead at a half time.
Rigby completed his hat trick and then Orrell replied with their second.
Rawsthorne, returning to the fray after taking a knock in the first half, weighted a chip kick perfectly into the path of Andy Burns, who finished well.
Morris romped in for his second after Rawsthorne again split the home defence with an inside pass.
The plucky home side did not give in and they were rewarded with a further score.
But, with Pilks intent on keeping the ball alive, the elusive Ashton twice got on the end of free-flowing moves for tries to complete a hat trick. Pope kicked seven conversions.
Morris was Recs’ Commhoist man of the match while Ashton was awarded the Taylors Taxis man of the match award.