Askam 56-4 Millom

A SECOND half hat-trick from substitute winger Tom Askew sparked another scoring spree that took holders Askam into the semi-finals of the Barton Townley Cup with a crushing 56-4 win over Millom.

A young Millom side were given a cruel lesson in finishing by the power of Askam who have now piled up 168 points in their last three games.

An evenly-fought first half offered no hint of what was to come after the break. Although tries from Ben Lewney and Krystian Tyson, plus a couple of Adam Jackson goals, had given the home side a 12-0 lead, Millom had created enough chances to give them hope.

Three times they crossed the Askam line but failed to ground the ball after creating promising openings and dominating for long spells, prompted by hooker Adam Kelly.

But their challenge fell apart when Askam got into their stride straight from the restart.

Askew made the most of a break down the right to score his first try and although full-back Lee Postlethwaite was rewarded when he caught the home defence off guard in the 45th minute it was a rare moment of relief for the visitors.

Three tries in a six-minute spell took the tie well out of Millom’s reach and time and again they were caught out by long-range breaks.
Askew had a clear run in for his second try after 56 minutes and when Ross Bolton made the most of gaps in the visitors’ defence, Tom Butler was on hand to finish off the move. Two minutes later Marc Tyson joined the list of try-scorers.

It was to the Millom youngsters’ credit that they stuck to the impossible task of trying to stem the green tide, but things went from bad to worse when prop Tom O’Brien was sin-binned, leaving the Maroons to finish the game a man short.

Askam were able to show why they are such a free-scoring force when an exquisite move ended with Jack Cairns going over for their seventh try. But the punishment didn’t end there. Askew raced 80 yards for a solo try to complete his hat-trick; Marc Tyson’s second try brought up the half century and in the final minute the ever-dangerous Bolton made it the perfect ten with the final try of a game that promised so much but only confirmed that the modern game can be so cruel once a team gets on a roll

Mom and players player Tom Askew