FOUR SENT OFF AFTER UGLY SCENES AT BENNETT'S REC

Queens 12

AN ugly brawl marred Woolston Rovers' passage to the quarter-finals of the BNFL BARLA National Cup on Saturday.

A 'free for all' flared at a scrum after 20 minutes with virtually all players involved.

Spectators ran on to the pitch at the time and now Woolston and BARLA chiefs are awaiting for the referee's report to see if any disciplinary action is to take place.

It did not help matters that there were no touch judges for this game.

When calm was restored, the referee dismissed two players from each side - Rovers' forwards Mark Shephard and Eddie Harris along with Queens' ex-Wakefield centre Andy Wilson and hooker Paul Darnbrough.

Queens held a slender 6-4 lead at the time but it was a majestic performance from man of the match centre Karl Taylor which took Rovers through.

Andy Hill had touched down Woolston's first try. Two minutes before the interval Taylor went on his own and used his strength and determination to force his way over for a try.

Three minutes into the second half Taylor received the ball wide on the left and out of nothing he spotted a gap and ghosted through for his second try. Graham Smith converted.

Rovers were temporarily reduced to 10 men on 46 minutes when Smith was sin-binned for a professional foul and Wright landed the simple penalty to cut his side's deficit to six points.

A Steve Cooper try from a kick for Queens left the game at 14-12 in Rovers' favour.

With just 10 minutes remaining, Rovers broke from a scrum near their own line with Hill, Smith and full back Nigel Quarmby sending Paul Fiddler in from 80 yards. Smith converted and added a penalty five minutes later.

Hooker Mike Briggs, second row Liam Horrigan and winger Neil Hyde had strong games for Woolston.

Rovers have appealed against the sending off decisions of Shephard and Harris. For Harris it was his second dismissal in two weeks after a long career of no red cards.

Rovers: Quarmby; Hyde, Fiddler, Taylor, Lomax; Smith, Hill; Shephard, Briggs, Foster, Horrigan, Harris, Millward. Subs: Carter, Marshall, Cash, Brown.

Rovers' reward for their victory is a trip to Barrow to take on fellow National Conference League Premier Division side Walney Central in the quarter-finals. This will take place on March 27.

Tomorrow, Saturday, Rovers are at home to Beverley East Hull in the National Conference League Premier Division, kick-off 2.30pm at Bennett's Rec.

AN ugly brawl marred Woolston Rovers' passage to the quarter-finals of the BNFL BARLA National Cup on Saturday.

A 'free for all' flared at a scrum after 20 minutes with one Woolston committee member reporting that a Queens spectator ran on the field and got 'stuck in'.

When calm was restored, the referee dismissed two players from each side - Rovers' forwards Mark Shephard and Eddie Harris along with Queens' ex-Wakefield centre Andy Wilson and hooker Paul Darnbrough.

Queens held a slender 6-4 lead at the time but it was a majestic performance from man of the match centre Karl Taylor which took Rovers through.

Andy Hill had touched down Woolston's first try in response to Queens' opening six points.

Two minutes before the interval Taylor went on his own and used his strength and determination to force his way over for a try despite the attention of four Queens players.

Three minutes into the second half, Taylor received the ball wide on the left and out of nothing he spotted a gap and ghosted through for his second try. Graham Smith converted.

Rovers were temporarily reduced to 10 men on 46 minutes when Smith was sin binned for a professional foul and Wright landed the simple penalty to cut his side's deficit to six points.

A Steve Cooper try from a kick for Queens left the game delicately poised at 14-12 in Rovers' favour.

With just 10 minutes remaining, Rovers broke from a scrum near their own line with Hill, Smith and full back Nigel Quarmby sending Paul Fiddler in from 80 yards. Smith converted and added a penalty five minutes later.

Hooker Mike Briggs, second row Liam Horrigan and winger Neil Hyde had strong games for Woolston.

Rovers' reward for their victory is a trip to Barrow to take on fellow National Conference League Premier Division side Walney Central in the quarter-finals. This will take place on March 27.

Tomorrow, Saturday, Rovers are at home to Beverley East Hull in the National Conference League Premier Division, kick-off 2.30pm at Bennett's Rec.

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