After a week of uncertainty surrounding whether or not this game could go ahead or not due to both Kirklees Council and Leeds City Council imposing blanket bans on fixtures.

A morning pitch inspection at Overthorpe Park gave a positive report and this National Cup tie finally got the green light.

The uncertainty in the build up to this fixture seemed to have no effect on the Trojans as they put their poor league form behind them to brush East Leeds aside with an eleven try haul to set up a mouth watering tie with Sharlston Rovers in the next round.

M.O.M. Johnny Campbell fends off a challenge.

Take nothing away from the Trojans in this game. They were as impressive as the score line suggests. Despite a valiant effort from the team only a division below them in the National Conference League, it was Thornhill’s Premier Division class that shone through.

Man of the match for Thornhill was full back Johnny Campbell. Campbell had pace to burn as he made countless supporting raids from deep to make good ground for Thornhill. However, as much as Johnny Campbell was the star of the show, it was Thornhill’s older heads that paved the way for this impressive victory. Loose forward Jason Firth registered a hat-trick of tries as he led from the front. Vinnie Johnson was also in top form as he wound back the years with some devastating runs. Johnson was quick to seize on the enterprise of hooker Richard Pachniuk as he unpicked the East Leeds defence from the acting half position.

It was a Vinnie Johnson break that set up the first of Thornhill’s tries. Johnson went rampaging towards the try line only to be held short. From a quick play the ball James Craven nipped over the line for an unconverted score.

Straight from the restart Thornhill hit East Leeds again as a result of some direct running from Jason Firth. Firth ran for the posts and twisted his way through the East Leeds defence and touched down for a try between the posts. James Craven converted.

As the half wore on the effect the return of player-coach Scott Dyson to the team became increasingly apparent. Dyson began to use his in field kicking to set up a series of Trojans raids.

Directly from a scrum down Scott Dyson put Johnny Campbell away on a run. Johnny Campbell ran directly to the corner. As the defence moved in on him he switched play infield to the supporting Chris Walker. Walker took the pass and went over for a try.

Dyson was once again instrumental in the next Thornhill score when his long kick along the ground was read perfectly by Jason Firth. Dyson kick was on target as it went between the posts soccer style. Firth planted the ball down to score the try and James Craven converted.

Another long range boot up field was picked up by Johnny Campbell. Campbell raced away and no East Leeds defenders could lay a finger on him. Campbell took the ball into the in goal area and instead of touching down he unselfishly passed to Danny Lee so he could score the try and get his name on the score sheet. James Craven converted.

Rob Copley cuts clean through the East Leeds defence.

The teams turned around at half time with Thornhill leading 26-0. Any hopes East Leeds may have had of a second half revival were quickly banished when Scott Green scored straight from the restart. An almighty run from Ian Rayner took play towards the try line. Rayner off loaded the ball in the tackle to put Scott Green over for an unconverted try.

Danny Lee then sent Richard Pachniuk away on a run. Pachniuk passed to the supporting Jason Firth who then finished the move by scoring his hat-trick try. James Craven converted.
 

By now the game was effectively over as a meaningful contest but Thornhill continued to turn the screw.

Johnny Campbell made another impressive break and a mix up between the Thornhill players appeared to have caused the move to break down. However, Liam Morley quickly recovered the situation to tidy things up, regained the forward momentum and broke up field to score an unconverted try.

Richard Pachniuk, Vinnie Johnson and Rob Copley then combined to send James Craven over for his second try of the game. Lee Schofield converted.

Rob Copley was again involved with setting up another Thornhill score when he broke away. Copley off loaded the ball in the tackle to send Richard Pachniuk over for an unconverted score.

The eleventh and final try was created and scored by Rob Copley when he once again broke away on a solo run. This time Copley didn’t need his supporting team mates and he crossed for a try of his own. Ben Kendall converted to complete Thornhill’s impressive points haul.

Match report compiled by Andrew Byram. Match Photos Here