THURSDAY 27TH AUGUST 2015
JIM BROWN HEAVY WOOLLEN CUP FINAL
THORNHILL TROJANS 52 DEWSBURY MOOR 12
AT TETLEY’S STADIUM, DEWSBURY RAMS

Thornhill Trojans, runners up in this competition for the previous 2 years, finally got their hands on the Jim Brown Heavy Woollen Cup with this emphatic victory over Dewsbury Moor. The Trojans proved to be too strong in the second half and cut loose to wrap up victory.
With forward power in abundance the Trojans pack laid the foundations for man of the match Liam Morley and hat-trick man Joel Gibson to run riot.

A paying attendance of 809 spectators saw Thornhill open the scoring after 6 minutes of play when Luke Haigh broke to combine with Jake Wilson. The ball was sent to Mindaugas Bendikas who had too much pace and planted the ball down for a try. Joel Gibson converted.

But then Thornhill became their own worst enemy with some sloppy play. Dewsbury Moor had a try ruled out for an off side decision. Passes were intercepted and others were put to ground. This allowed Dewsbury Moor back into the game and on 26 minutes Jacob Fauthers intercepted a pass to race away and score a try which he converted himself. This made it game on.

However, in the run up to half time Thornhill regained their hold on play. A kick forward into the in goal area bounced perfectly for Mason Bailey to gather and score a try. Joel Gibson converted.

Then on the stroke of half time Joel Gibson chipped the ball forward, regathered and scored a try which he converted himself. Gibson converted his own score to see the Trojans lead 18-6 at the interval.

Thornhill started the second half purposefully. Liam Morley took play forward on a determined run. With no Dewsbury Moor players able to halt Morley he went over for a try which Joel Gibson converted.

Dewsbury Moor’s last offering came when the ball was whipped out to the wing. Good handling saw the ball end with George Croisdale who sprinted clear to score a try which Fauthers converted.

But then the game was all Thornhill. Liam Morley broke clear to put Danny Ratcliffe over for an unconverted try.

Danny Ratcliffe then became try creator when he gained possession of the ball and put Mason Bailey over for his second try of the game. Joel Gibson converted.

Luke Haigh once again opened up the Dewsbury Moor defence with a run. Jake Wilson and Joel Gibson then combined to put Adam Johnson away down the wing. Johnson brought the ball nearer the posts to allow Joel Gibson an easier conversion.

Jake Wilson created the next Thornhill score when he broke clear to put Joel Gibson over for a try. Gibson converted.

In the final minute of the game Thornhill topped the half century mark when Joel Gibson gathered his own high kick after a Dewsbury Moor defender had failed to clear the ball. This gave Gibson his hat-trick and his last goal kick of the game.

This was a victory to savour for the Trojans.

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