RUNCORN started their pre-season campaign last Saturday with a very entertaining and enthralling training game against their Welsh counterparts.

It was also seen as a valuable chance to try new players as well as established personnel and build up their ever increasing reputation as a family club, by providing a coach for all the players partners and children free of charge for the day out.

The first half created few chances as both sides vetted the other out intensely, even though Runcorn seemed the sharpest out of the two teams.

Steve Ayres went very close after 12 minutes of play by running unopposed down his right hand wing to only be denied a try by a few centimetres, after being ran out into touch.

New coach Cliff Williams and Player Manager Neil Maudsley put the players through their paces early on, with fast attacking flowing rugby being the order of the day, even though the Welsh sun was blistering down onto the players backs.

The first try came after a great tackle from veteran Steve Mayer on his own twenty two, who released the ball to centre Matty Gore who alerted winger Dave Hewitt into action by making 50 yards before off loading to full back Paul Ayres, who ran under the posts and converted himself.

Prestatyn then flew into action straight from the re start and bounced two very well engineered tries to score their only points in the afternoon.

Just before half time Runcorn gained the lead once again, with a remarkable dummy from ex Captain Mike Lyon who fed Nick Faz who then brilliantly gave the ball back to Lyon, who revelled in his first try for three seasons.

With the travelling fans in a state of euphoria Ayres kicked his way to another conversion in the process.

Half time saw a complete change around and no less than 12 changes were made to the Runcorn line up. One of the new arrivals was Jimmy Appo, who brought back the glittering years and flew 40 yards into the Welsh half and fed tantalisingly to Steve Franey who trounced the ball easily over the Prestatyn line.

The brilliant forward play was continued, when 2nd row Keith Roberts was hurtled, American football style, over five on coming players and over the Welsh gain line for the most unpredictable score of the day, with Paul Ayres finishing off the scoring with a 40 yard kick.

Other good performances were from Steve Hillan, Arthur Nethorcott, Tommy Dennet, Terry Abbot, Andy Swift, Chris Perks, Tony Ayres and Paul Grant. Club Manager, Maudsley, said after this great game of rugby: "We battled well for the majority of this practice match but still have plenty in reserve, I hope, for the following training games ahead. Even in this amazing heat we still managed to beat a well drilled side that are allegedly better than us but once again we proved that we can overcome the best."

The next pre season training matches are against Rhyl RUFC, at Rhyl on August 12 and 26, also away at Liverpool Collegiate, who ex Moore and Runcorn coach Frank Williams has signed for recently.

Both games are also seen as trial matches and are a must for any up and coming budding rugby player to make their mark for Runcorn. All standards of Rugby enthusiaists are welcome and any age group will be catered for.

All players are to be reminded that Thursday training is back on at 7pm at the all weather pitch, Halton Sports.

For any information on the up and coming games or training info, you can contact Peter Lyon on 01928 711869 or e-mail the club at robbo56lewis128@aol.com or Runcorn RUFC for any general queries, web site is www.runcornrufc.f9.co.uk

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.