The game had been delayed by a day to allow many of the Siddal players to return from a club trip over the bank holiday weekend.

However, without ever really getting into top gear, the Trojans took control from the off to collect the points from this midweek encounter.

Star of the show for Thornhill was young full back James Craven who tore Siddal apart time and time again with some deceptive in field running.

M.O.M. James Craven runs the ball strongly out of defence.

This good field position created by Craven was capitalised upon by both Richard Pachniuk and Scott Dyson. Both players stood up to the big Siddal pack and broke the visitors defence down with some clever attacking play.

The impact Scott Dyson was going to have on the run of play was evident from the off. A towering kick from Dyson found touch and the referee ruled for a 40:20 kick. From the resultant scrum down Dyson combined with Craig Holmes in a perfectly executed run-around. The move ended with the ball reaching winger Scott Redgwick who went over for a try in the corner.

The Siddal defence was again prized open, this time by Matthew Roberts when he broke clear from Thornhill’s half of the field. Roberts set off at pace, drew the Siddal full back before switching the ball inside to the supporting Richard Pachniuk. Pachniuk took the pass and went over for a try between the posts. Craig Holmes converted.

The score remained unchanged for the remainder of the half as both defences held firm.
Danny Stockings opened Siddal’s account early in the second half after Richard Pachniuk had been penalised for obstruction. Stockings kicked the penalty goal. But then Siddal’s indiscipline really did start to become their downfall as Thornhill took advantage of the penalties and turned field position into points.

Rob Copley broke away down the wing for Thornhill and did very well to get a pass inside to Liam Morley. Morley evaded the attention of two Siddal defenders and went over for a try which Craig Holmes converted.

A Craig Holmes penalty goal increased the Trojan’s hold before a strong challenge on Thornhill’s Matthew Roberts required the intervention of referee Paul Stockman. With Roberts’ on the floor seeing stars, two Siddal players were shown yellow cards. George Ambler was sin binned for persistent high tackles and he was followed by Nick Smith for dissent.

Once the dazed Matthew Roberts had been assisted from the field, play restarted with Rob Copley once again creating another Thornhill score. This time Scott Redgwick was on the end of Copley’s pass to go over for the try. Craig Holmes converted.

Shane Davies attempts to break the Siddal defensive line.

 However, before Pearson had reached the dug out the card had turned to red due to persistent dissent.

Straight after this sending off Anthony Broadhead put Danny Lee away through a gap and over for an unconverted try.

A late try from Siddal’s Chris Marsh was converted by Danny Stockings. But with the game now being played in poor light Richard Pachniuk seized upon a weak Siddal pass to race away and score an unconverted try.