Siddal 'Recs' Pilkington's Challenge Cup Dream!

Pilkington Recs 10 v Siddal 34

After a first half performance littered by handling errors and poor decisions, Siddal turned in a faultless 2nd half performance to wreck the challenge cup dream of opponents, Pilkington Recs.

The home side capitalised on Siddal's sluggish opening effort by scoring two good tries through Jake Hodson and Jonathan Frodsham, and a penalty goal on the stroke of half time by Kyran Knapper helped Pilkington to go in at half time 10-0 up.

Siddal coach Gareth Greenwood gave his players the verbal lashing they deserved and that had the desired effect as within minutes of the restart, Siddal had opened their account. The try came from Tom Garratt who powered over from close range with defenders unable to prevent the giant second row from reaching the try line. Gaz Blackburn added the simple conversion. On 50 minutes Siddal went in front. Skipper Shaun Garrod was the instigator, moving the ball wide left to wing Blackburn who stepped inside the defensive cover but was held up by three defenders just a couple of yards from the line. However, just as the referee was about to call 'held', Blackburn managed a brilliant offload to the supporting Freddie Walker who went over in the corner. Blackburn converted superbly from the touchline to put Siddal 12-10 in front.

Siddal were now on a roll as their pack continued rolling down the middle of the pitch and they didn't have to wait long for a third try. Prop Iain Davies powered over by the posts in a repeat of some of his grand final tries and Blackburn again added the conversion. At 18-10, Pilkington really did need the next score but Siddal's defence was too strong for them and they were pretty much restricted to a kicking game to get them out of their own half. That allowed Walker and right wing Ben West to bring the ball back strongly and with Jack Georgiou, Jack Matthews, Sean McCormack and Byron Smith punching deep into Recs territory on a regular basis, Siddal's halfbacks Garrod and Kyle Ackroyd were able to move the ball around and stretch the Recs defence. On the hour mark Siddal were in again. Garrod fooled the defence he was going to bring centre Joe Martin back inside but instead he threw a long pass out to the left to Blackburn who stepped inside two defenders to score. The conversion from wide out was missed by Blackburn but Siddal were now 22-10 in front.

The home side were now looking well beat and in the last ten minutes Siddal ran them ragged. Garrod spotted his opportunity and in the centre of the pitch just 15 metres from the Pilks line he side stepped his way through the tired Recs defence to touch down right under the posts. Blackburn added a simple conversion to stretch Siddal's lead to 28-10. Garratt, Zack McComb and McCormack once again took Siddal deep into Pilkington's territory from the restart and the home side knocked on as they tried to intercept McCormack's pass. From the resultant scrum Garrod ran wide left on the outside of the opposing defender and then passed back inside to Joe Martin who celebrated with Siddal's sixth and final try. Blackburn added conversion number five for a personal haul of 14 points to take Siddal out to 34-10.

Shaun Garrod picked up the man of the match award but there were other good performances from young forwards Georgiou and Matthews, centres McComb and Martin and fullback Walker.