 The Kingstone Press Championship Summer Bash descended on Blackpool with three intriguing matches scheduled for the opening days feast of rugby league.
First up was the Cumbrian derby as Whitehaven faced Workington with two of the bottom three coming together. The second match featured the Broncos against the Eagles, both sides hoping for a finish in the top four. The last game was a full-blooded West Yorkshire derby with Halifax, from fifth, taking on the Bradford Bulls in second.
Game 1: Workington v. Whitehaven
The last time that Workington and Whitehaven met it was the team from Derwent Park who registered a 40-0 win, but it was Grant Gore opened then scoring for 'Haven, and within minutes he was followed over the line by Frenchman Jordan Sigismeau. Both kicks were missed but it was a dream 8-0 start.
On twenty Louis Jouffret picked up a dropped Workington ball and went 95m to score, and when he added the conversion it was 14-0. Just five more minutes had elapsed before Jordan Burns went over on the corner for 18-0. Workington were stunned, this hadn't been in the pre-match script.
Just before the interval there was a lifeline for Workington when Jarrad Stack was the beneficiary of a Wilde knock-on from a kick through, and he stretched out to score one-handed. Carl Forber kicked the two and reduced the half-time arrears to 18-6.
After absorbing Whitehaven pressure it was Workington who scored the first points of the second half when Stack went over from acting half-back for his second of the afternoon. Forbers kick got his side within one converted try of their opponents.
Jouffret kicked a penalty when Workington were penalised for a late challenge on the kicker, but on the hour mark Marc Shackley crashed over off a bullet pass, enabling Forber to goal and reduce the margin down to just two points.
On sixty-three Tyla Hepi saw yellow for a late swing at a player on the ground, and Forber kicked the two points from thirty metres to square the scores with just over a quarter of an hour left.
Nine minutes from the end and Workington took the lead for the first time when Jack Murphy hit a ball from Haughton at pace, to dive over unopposed. Forber added the two and Whitehaven now had it all to do to avoid a third loss of the season (including the pre-season friendly) to their arch enemies.
Despite good Whitehaven pressure, Workington defended their line and held out for the win and the two points. It had been a great contest between two evenly matched sides and all credit to Workington for a great fightback from being 18-0 behind to secure the win.
Game 2: Broncos v. Eagles
The Eagles needed the two points to cement their top three position, but the Broncos had a chance to finish the afternoon in sixth with a big points win (by 56 or more). Two former Super League clubs, with aspirations to ply their trade in the top flight, had a point to prove to a national TV audience.
Elliot Kear drew first blood for the Broncos after just five minutes. Wes Naiqama added the extras. It was soon 12-0 when Rhys Williams went 95m from an intercept to hug the touch line and cross without an Eagles hand on him. Naiqama added the two and Sheffield were stunned.
After being awarded a penalty in their own twenty the Broncos worked the ball down field and a neat grubber from Ben Hellewell was missed by the Eagles defence and Hellewell picked up the ball himself to ground. Naiqama kicked the two. Three tackles into the kick-off return Elliott Kear fed off Naiqama and went straight to the line for his second of the afternoon. Naiqama added the two for an incredible 24-0 advantage within sixteen minutes.
After a twelve minute hiatus, great passing and support play allowed Oscar Thomas to crash over, Naiqama missed the goal but at 28-0 and the Eagles were looking like a pub team.
On the back of three penalties the Eagles finally got on the score sheet when Cory Aston scampered over and Brambini added the goal. The sides cancelled each other out for the remainder of the half and London took a 28-6 lead into the interval.
With the second half seven minutes old Oscar Thomas took his chance off a Kear pass to get his second of the afternoon and Naiqama made it 34-6 with the boot and took the game beyond the Eagles. Thomas got his hat-trick when he collected a Brambini kick on the full, and went seventy metres down field to score by the sticks. Naiqama's goal gave his side a 40-6 lead.
Good hands saw Williams in for his second of the day, converted by Naiqama, as London made their utter dominance count. Sheffield had nothing in response and as the clock ran down it signalled a comprehensive 46-6 win for London Broncos who'd overcome the bookies odds and totally dominated the Eagles.
Game 3: Bulls v. Halifax
The Bulls needed a massive win to go top overnight but a win for Halifax would see them up into fourth, ahead of Featherstone Rovers who have a tough challenge against the league leaders Leigh Centurions, in the closing game tomorrow afternoon.
It was a humdinger of a first thirty-five minutes, with Halifax dominating the opening twenty, but the Bulls very much in the ascendancy after withstanding the initial 'Fax onslaught. It was the Bulls who broke the line first when Ryan Shaw scrambled out of an attempted tackle to regain his feet and twist over. Shaw converted his own and gave his side a 6-0 lead. Two minutes later and Shaw broke the tackle before finding Adrian Purtell on his shoulder to put the Bulls centre over for the Bulls double-whammy. Shaw kicked the extras and the Bulls were 12-0 ahead from nowhere, and they carried the lead to the break.
Early in the second half, and after a long stoppage for a sickening clash of heads, Halifax regained their composure the fastest and Heaton spun over to score, with four Bulls players attached, for 12-4.
On fifty-five, Gaskell made a half break and found plenty of support who used fast hands to create a gap for Adrian Purtell to score his second. With Shaw off the field with a head injury, Danny Addy kicked the conversion.
Both sides showed enterprise in attack and determination in defence and for the last twenty-five minutes the teams played out a stalemate for the 18-4 Bulls win to keep them firmly second and make the Halifax quest for a top four spot a little more difficult.
|
