KINGSTONE PRESS NATIONAL CONFERENCE LEAGUE DIVISION TWO
SATURDAY 13TH MAY 2017
THORNHILL TROJANS 18 BRADFORD DUDLEY HILL 42
AT OVERTHORPE PARK
Thornhill Trojans depleted playing squad paid the price of playing two games in the space of a few days. The mid-week cup tie at Mirfield clearly had an impact on the Trojans with this capitulation against Dudley Hill.
On paper this looked to be a very close contest – 4th versus 5th with both team looking to keep in touch with the divisions pace setters. However, despite a promising opening, the Trojans were simply not good enough in this game. A combination of indiscipline, woeful defending and some very tired bodies saw the Trojans unravelled. So poor were the Trojans that the vast majority of supporters had left well before full time.
Thornhill’s bright opening was short lived and gave little indication of how the rest of the game would pan out. Inside the opening 5 minutes of play a high kick from Scott Dyson to the corner was collected by Joss Ratcliffe. The winger powered over for the games opening try which was converted by Craig Holmes.
But from this point the game gradually slid away from the Trojans despite the valiant efforts of Liam Morley and man of the match James Craven.
The horror show began to unfold more or less as soon as play had restarted from Thornhill’s opening try. A high kick from scrum half Simon Sewell came down and Andrew Walker ran onto the ball to go over for a try. Sewell converted.
Dudley Hill continued to put Thornhill under pressure and Kyle Bateman ran onto a pass. Bateman used his weight to barge between the posts and put Dudley Hill in front. Sewell converted as the cheers from the visiting supporters went up.
Thornhill cause was made that much more difficult when Liam Morley was shown a yellow card and sent to the sin bin by the referee for dissent. With the Trojans now down to 12 men Dudley Hill turned the screw further. The ball was flung at speed along the attacking line and an overlap was created for Damian Smith to score an unconverted try in the corner.
Dudley Hill attacked the same corner of the field. This time a high kick was put up. The ball came down in the corner of the field. Damian Smith was once again perfectly positioned to collect the ball and score an unconverted try.
Thornhill rallied in the run to half time but twice attacks broke down when the Dudley Hill defence put a Trojan player into touch.
The match clinching moment came midway through the second half. A high kick from Scott Dyson came down more or less on the Dudley Hill try line. Neil Wall collected the ball to thwart the Thornhill raid. However, with a sudden turn of pace Wall then set off on a long run. Thornhill players tried to close him down. At one point James Craven collided with a Dudley Hill player prompting the Dudley Hill water carrier to intervene. The attack carried on regardless and Neil Wall completed his run to score a try which Simon Sewell converted. Before play could restart the referee showed the Dudley Hill water carrier a red card.
It was now a case of damage limitation for Thornhill as the visitors looked to further increase their lead. A back to one decision in favour of Dudley Hill saw play continue. Andrew Walker stepped his way through 2 Thornhill defenders to cross for a try which Simon Sewell converted.
Straight after this try had been scored Scott Dyson was sent to the sinbin for making contact with a Dudley Hill players head.
By now Thornhill were being ripped apart for fun by Dudley Hill and Kyle Bateman was up in support of a Dudley Hill break to score his second try of the game. Simon Sewell converted.
However, Liam Morley showed real fighting spirit in what was by now a lost cause for the Trojans. Close to the Dudley Hill try line, Morley went alone and scooted over for a try which Craig Holmes converted.
As the players made their way back for the restart Thornhill coach James Ratcliffe used the opportunity to question the referee about his application of the rule which enabled team warnings to be handed out. This line of enquiry was not appreciated by the referee and James Ratcliffe was shown a red card.
Any hopes of Thornhill closing down Dudley Hill’s lead were scuppered when Martin Southwell was given far too much space. This allowed Southwell the opportunity to go over for an unconverted try.
At the death Liam Morley forced his way over for the games final try. Craig Holmes converted to bring an end to this sorry episode for the Trojans.

MATCH FACTS
Thornhill Trojans 18
(Maroon & white)
1) Craig Holmes 3 Goals
2) Mindaugas Bendikas
3) Will Gledhill
4) George Woodcock
5) Joss Ratcliffe 1 Try
6) Liam Morley 2 Tries
7) Scott Dyson
8) Lee Smith
9) Josh Clough
10) Anthony Harris
11) Josh Lister
12) George Stott
13) James Craven
Subs:
14) Steve Smith
15) Adam Johnson
16) Sam Ratcliffe
17) Jordan Clayton

Bradford Dudley Hill 42
(Yellow & Blue)
1) Aiden Batey
2) Damien Smith 2 tries
3) Martin Southwell 1 Try
4) Daniel Lee
5) Neil Wall 1 Try
6) Dave Halley
7) Simon Sewell 5 goals
8) Anthony Lawton
9) Ben Sheridan
10) Charles Marsh
11) Andrew Walker 2 tries
12) Sam Broadley
13) Adam Whiteley
Subs:
14) Kyle Carter
15) Nathan Broadbent
16) Kyle Bateman 2 Tries
17) Anthony Huby

Referee – Harry Neville (Leeds)
Sin bin – Liam Morley on 27 minute for dissent
Sin bin – Scott Dyson on 64 minutes for head contact
Sent off – Shaun Jackson water carrier entering field of play on 58 minutes
Sent off – James Ratcliffe on 72 minutes for dissent

Man of the match – James Craven (Trojans) Aiden Batey (Dudley Hill)