Crosfields 26

Normanton 10

WITHIN two minutes Soap led their match in National Conference Division Two when Carl Porter barged his way over from acting half back.

Twenty minutes into the half, after sustained pressure by Normanton, they equalised with a try out wide by Gavin Barrett and a conversion by Ian Morse.

Crosfields were awarded a penalty for off side and Dave Gibbons converted to make the score 8-6.

Right on half-time Normanton deservedly took the lead when scrum half Kev Martin scored a try.

Whatever was said at half-time by coach Terry Reid seemed to do the trick as Crosfields appeared with new form and in the 55th minute scrum half Gibbons finished off a set move for Crosfields to take the lead.

After Neil Brough for Crosfields and Damian Ashurst were sin-binned for fighting, Normanton's heads seemed to go down.

Within the first set of six tackles Gibbons gave two outrageous dummies to score in the corner.

With 10 minutes left, full back Russ Parkman scored a try after a 30 metre run through the Normanton defence.

Gibbons finished off the scoring with a penalty for a well deserved, if not entertaining, win.

The man of the match award went to loose forward Peter Cannon, who was well supported in the forwards by 18-year-old Barry Lowe.

In the backs Gibbons and centre Rob Ditchfield were both worthy of a mention.

Tomorrow, Saturday, Crosfields are away to Sheffield Hawks, coach leaves 11.30am. Spectators welcome.

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