KINGSTONE PRESS NATIONAL CONFERENCE LEAGUE DIVISION TWO
SATURDAY 12TH AUGUST 2017
THORNHILL TROJANS 35 OULTON RAIDERS 26
AT OVERTHORPE PARK
Thornhill Trojans produced a fantastic performance to complete the double over table topping Oulton Raiders. After a slow start the Trojans fell into their stride to clinch this superb victory and cut Oulton‘s league at the top of the table to 1 point.
The Trojans made a slow start to this game and conceded 2 early tries. However, the inspirational Danny Ratcliffe spurred on his teams to turn the tide. The Trojans had a hat-trick of tries from Will Gledhill to thank largely for this win but there was also an outstanding performance from George Stott. George Stott was the official man of the match in what was a amazing team effort from the Trojans.
The two early tires that the Trojans conceded had the Thornhill faithful shaking their heads in disbelief. This wasn’t the start they needed. The first try came when Oulton took advantage of a Thornhill defensive error. A Thornhill player shot out of the defensive line and missed his man. Oulton skipped through the gap which appeared and Adrian Holdsworth went over for an unconverted try in the corner.
Minutes later sustained pressure on the Thornhill line paid off for Oulton when Dom Flanagan powered over for an unconverted try in the corner.
Thornhill were fortunate that the Oulton goal kicker wasn’t having the best of days and this helped keep the score down.
However, Thornhill dug in and managed to take some sort of hold on the game. Danny Ratcliffe chipped the ball forward. An Oulton defender appeared to have collected the ball safely but somehow Danny Ratcliffe snatched the ball back, played on and went over for a try which he converted himself.
But this good work was quickly undone when Oulton took advantage of another mistake from Thornhill. Straight from a scrum down situation Thornhill spilled the ball. The ball spun loose into the air and Andy Williamson snapped at it to gain possession for Oulton. Williamson raced forward 20 meters to go over for a try. Tom Egan converted.
But then 3 ties on the bounce inside the space of 6 minutes from Will Gledhill suddenly put Thornhill into the driving seat. This was a prolific spell for Gledhill and must go down as one of the fastest hat-tricks in NCL history.
From the restart Oulton lost the ball. Danny Ratcliffe picked up the ball for Thornhill and took play towards the Oulton try line. A pass from James Craven then picked out Will Gledhill who reached out to plant the ball over the try line. Danny Ratcliffe converted.
Will Gledhill then ran off a pass from Liam Morley to power over for his second try from close range. Danny Ratcliffe converted.
The sensational spell from Gledhill then continued when right on the stroke of half time Danny Ratcliffe broke clear. Play continued towards the try line and Will Gledhill ran off a pass to go over and complete his hat-trick. Danny Ratcliffe converted.
The second half got underway with Oulton taking advantage of a missed tackle from Thornhill. The miss was out wide and Dom Flanagan went over for his second try of the game. Tom Egan converted.
Thornhill were then suddenly behind once again when Dom Flanagan caught them cold to complete his hat-trick. Flanagan stepped inside right on the half way line and with a turn of pace set off on a run. Thornhill seemed to stand back and admire his run as Flanagan raced over for a try between the posts. Egan converted. Thornhill now trailed by 2 points.
But then Thornhill pressed forward and secured the game with a very strong finish.
Will Gledhill went on a searching run for the Trojans. With the try line within reach a pass was send out which ended with George Stott powering beneath a pile of bodies to score a try. The cheers from the Thornhill supporters went up but the goal was missed.
Then Danny Ratcliffe sent out a pass to the wing which put Joss Ratcliffe over in the corner. Danny Ratcliffe kicked a brilliant goal from out wide.
Thornhill then tried to wind down the clock. A penalty goal from Danny Ratcliffe went wide but he made no mistake with a field goal attempt to effectively make sure of the victory for Thornhill.
A late push by Oulton was all for nothing. Sam Ratcliffe was sin binned in the final moments for time wasting with the ball. This didn’t matter at the referee blew for full time to confirm the win for Thornhill.

MATCH FACTS

Thornhill Trojans 35
(Maroon & White)
1) James Craven
2) Ryan Fenton
3) Will Gledhill 3 Tries
4) David Clayton
5) Joss Ratcliffe 1 Try
6) Liam Morley
7) Danny Ratcliffe 1 Try, 5 Goals & 1 Field Goal
8) Tom Gledhill
9) Luke Haigh
10) Anthony Harris
11) George Stott 1 Try
12) Wayne Wilson
13) Josh Clough
Subs:
14) Will Poching
15) Sam Ratcliffe
16) Lee Smith
17) Andrew Lambert

Oulton Raiders 26
(Grey, Green & Black)
1) Kieron Walpole
2) Jerome Malcolm
3) Adrian Holdsworth 1 Try
4) Dom Flanagan 3 Tries
5) Harry Grayson
6) Andy Williamson 1 Try
7) Tom Egan 3 Goals
8) Connor Dunbar
9) Danny Mackintosh
10) Lawrence Dibb
11) Josh Lancaster
12) Clayton Stott
13) Lee Gomersall
Subs:
14) Josh Murray
15) Scott Holder
16) Mal Day
17) Matthew Stableford
Referee – Jack Pullein
Sin Bin – Sam Ratcliffe on 79 minutes for unsporting conduct
Man of the match – George Stott (Trojans) Andy Williamson (Raiders