Widnes St Maries 30 Normanton Knights 12

Arriva Trains Conference

FIELDING no less than 11 players under 20 years of age the Maries showed true spirit throughout led by skipper and man of the match Anthony Hollins who set the standard in the first three minutes by breaking the Normanton line and feeding Piula Tu'iono to score under the posts which was converted by stand-off Adam Flanagan to lead 6-0.

Strong defence from both sides meant the next score wasn't until midway through the half but again it was St Maries who showed good hands through the line allowing Mark Birmingham to score but the conversion was missed.

A penalty conceded 10 metres out allowed Normanton back into the game on 30 minutes when the Normanton stand off Kevin Martin forced his way over close to the posts, which was converted by hooker Lee Aspinall.

A penalty just before half time was converted by Adam Flanagan to finish the first half with St Maries ahead 12-6.

The second half started as the first had begun with St Maries increasing their lead three minutes into the half when Carl Leach burst through the Normanton defence from 10 metres out to go over under the posts which allowed Flanagan a simple conversion.

Then 10 minutes into the half the Maries conceded a penalty 10 metres out following some good pressure from Normanton who opted for the power play which proved to be the right decision for them with centre Richard Stead scoring under the sticks and duly converted by Ben Cockayne to bring Normanton back within a try and a goal at 18-12.

However in a game played in excellent spirit the Maries were determined that this would be their day and that they were not going to allow Normanton a further score and from a short pass from Anthony Hollins to Adam Flanagan on the halfway, he outpaced the Normanton covering defence to score an excellent try out wide.

The conversion was missed leaving the score 22-12.

With both teams conceding penalties from handling errors it wasn't until 30 minutes into the half that an excellent kick on the fifth from second rower Ben Smith forced a knock on and from the resulting scrum, good handling skills allowed debutant Danny Yates to score, which was again converted by Flanagan.

With the game almost over again it was another kick on the fifth, which forced a handling error from the Normanton defence and following the scrum they conceded a further penalty, which was converted by Adam Flanagan with time up.

With so many young players and five experienced their first taste of the Arriva Trains Conference League, coach Bobbie Goulding can feel very satisfied with the performance of his team. The next game is away to Heworth on August 30.

Anyone interested in joining call Martin on 07785-902489.