Third from bottom Trojans made this visit to the
team placed immediately below them in the Premier Division in the knowledge that
this was a must win game if they were to start dragging themselves out of the
relegation mire.
However, after a lively start the Trojans let the appalling weather conditions
affect their composure and they found themselves on the end of a disappointing
defeat. So bad were the conditions persistent heavy rain, biting wind, misty,
over cast with poor light and an extremely muddy playing surface - that the
referee blew up early to put the perishing players out for their misery.
The game ended prematurely with the teams
virtually indistinguishable and players struggling to hold onto passes due to
numb hands.
In order to fulfil this fixture the Trojans had been forced to delve into their
‘A’ team and saw Conference debuts for Wayne Wilson and David Dyson. There was
also a start for Johnny Campbell at full back. |
Trojans star man Johnny Campbell in action. |
So impressive was Campbell that he was named
Thornhill’s official man of the match despite limping through most of the
second half with a pulled hamstring. The game also saw Danny Lee playing him
last game before serving a two match ban. The ban now seems irrelevant as
Danny Lee retired from action in the second half with a painful arm injury.
Thornhill started the game purposefully and controlled the opening exchanges
with Scott Dyson showing some useful touches at scrum half. Prop Anthony
Harris also caught the eye taking the ball forward with some impressive
drives.
It was against the run of play that West Bowling scored the first try.
Thornhill lost the ball whilst trying to run play away from their own try
line. Winger Lee Innes pounced on the loose ball to score an unconverted try
in the corner.
From this score West Bowling began to use the wind and slope to their
advantage. A high kick from West Bowling towards the Thornhill try line
resulted in a disputed back to one decision. West Bowling road their luck
and some impressive handling given the conditions saw the ball quickly pass
through several pairs of hands. An overlap was created and Adam Crompton
scored an unconverted try in the corner.
Despite these two early scores Thornhill still looked in with a shout and
continued to work their way up the slope towards the West Bowling try line.
After runs from Jason Firth and Daniel Annakin the try line came within
touching distance. Quick off loads from Scott Dyson and Ben Kendall helped
keep play alive. The ball was then worked out to Johnny Campbell who had the
overlap and scored the try. Scott Dyson converted. |
Young prop Anthony Harris
continues to catch the eye with another good performance. |
The teams turned around at half time with West
Bowling leading by two points. The home side emerged for the second half
wearing a fresh kit to help distinguish the two teams.
A penalty goal from Scott Dyson levelled the scores to make this a real
endurance test for the teams. As the mist descended on the game, Steve
Illingworth sold a dummy to bamboozle the Trojans. The Thornhill defence
opened up and Illingworth nipped over for a try.
Innes’ kick at goal was deemed to have gone
between the posts by the touch judges but the Thornhill players protested to
the referee claiming that the kick was off target. The referee ruled in
favour of the touch judges and the goal was awarded.
As the half wore on, with both the light and temperature plummeting further,
the referee kept consulting both captains as to whether play should
continue. | |
With handling now almost impossible due
to the cold mud, rain and numb hands the players continued to persist
with the game. A Lee Innes penalty goal gave West Bowling a margin of
safety. Eventually a Thornhill missed tackle allowed Ben Whyte to go
stepping away into the mist and over for an unconverted try.
With neither side able to put together any serious attacking rugby due
to the conditions and with West Bowling leading by twelve points the
referee decided enough was enough and let the players retreat to the
changing rooms. With seven minutes left on the clock the full time
whistle was blown. Thornhill are now deeper in the relegation mire.
Match report compiled by Andrew Byram. |
|
 |
| Trojans Stats: |
| 1 |
J
Campbell |
| 2 |
J Craven |
| 3 |
L Green |
| 4 |
B
Hardacre |
| 5 |
T
Marsden |
| 6 |
J Firth |
| 7 |
S Dyson |
| 8 |
L Schofield |
| 9 |
R
Pachniuk |
| 10 |
A Harris |
| 11 |
B Kendall |
| 12 |
S Davies |
| 13 |
D
Annakin |
| Subs: |
| 14 |
D Lee |
| 15 |
L Smith |
| 16 |
W Wilson |
| 17 |
D Dyson |
| Scorers: |
| J Campbell |
1 try |
|
S Dyson |
2 goals |
|
|
Trojans M.O.M. |
|
J Campbell |
|
 |
| West
Bowling Stats: |
| 1 |
D
Ramsden |
| 2 |
A
Crompton |
| 3 |
G
Buckley |
| 4 |
T Stead |
| 5 |
L Innes |
| 6 |
S
Illingworth |
| 7 |
S
Whitehouse |
| 8 |
A Senior |
| 9 |
N
Hadfield |
| 10 |
L Martin |
| 11 |
J
Summers |
| 12 |
S Basha |
| 13 |
A ;eek |
| Subs: |
| 14 |
B Whyte |
| 15 |
M
Dunning |
| 16 |
R Simpson |
| 17 |
G
Shepard |
| Scorers: |
| B Whyte |
1 try |
| S Illingworth |
1 try |
| A Crompton |
1 try |
| L Innes |
1 try |
| L Innes |
2 goals |
| West
Bowling M.O.M. |
| L
Martin |
|
|
 |
|
Team |
Pl |
Pts |
|
East Hull |
18 |
29 |
|
Leigh Miners |
17 |
26 |
|
Leigh East |
17 |
22 |
|
Skirlaugh |
17 |
22 |
|
Wigan St Pats |
17 |
20 |
|
Rochdale |
17 |
20 |
|
Siddall |
18 |
18 |
|
Hull
Dockers |
18 |
17 |
|
Oulton |
18 |
16 |
|
Cas Panthers |
18 |
16 |
|
West Hull |
18 |
16 |
|
Trojans |
17 |
12 |
|
West Bowling |
18 |
8 |
|
Eastmoor |
18 |
4 |
|
|
|
