Hornets round-up

Halton Hornets u14s 18

HORNETS travelled to Wigan to take on undefeated league leaders Newton Knights.

In an excellent tough game of rugby league, Hornets showed tremendous character, discipline and team spirit. Newton started the stronger and soon established a 10 point lead.

Hornets settled and started to combine as a team and soon pulled themselves back into the game. Their first try came when Argent followed up his own high kick to touchdown.

Hornets continued to pressure the Knights' defence and strong running full-back, Paul Goulding, weaved his way through to score a 35 yard tremendous effort.

Mom, Paul Argent, continued to impress with his second touchdown before half-time. He converted all three tries leaving Hornets with the half-time advantage at 18-16.

The second-half saw both defences on top. Good tackling by Ian Dourley, Paul Stokes, Steve McCann and Nicky Royle kept the Knights out until the sixth minute of injury time when their full-back scored in the corner to win the game. Hornets were unlucky to lose and the whole squad of 17 players are to be congratulated on a tremendous display.

Orrell St James u13s 10

Halton Hornets u13s 22

THIS was a magnificent performance by Hornets to remain undefeated against their closest challengers in the NWC Premier League match.

The scoreline totally flatters Orrell as Hornets completely dominated the game and in fact had three tries disallowed.

Hornets opened the scoring in the first attack with centre, Neil Davidson, forcing his way over wide out for an unconverted try.

Steadier finishing would have brought more scores as Hornets continued to dominate, but they increased the lead when stand-off, Andrew Forbes, fooled the defence to cut back inside for an excellent try to leave the score at 8-0.

Again only poor finishing prevented Hornets from putting the game out of Orrells' reach before half-time.

Then just before half-time, in their first venture into Hornets' territory, Orrell, against the run of play, got a converted try following a kick on the last tackle, to leave it at 8-6 at half-time.

The second-half started as the first with Hornets completely dominating the play, and after several near misses centre, Ste Rowlands, scored following a kick on the last tackle to stretch the lead to 12-6.

With Orrell unable to break out of their own half due to Hornets' tremendous tackling, the pressure eventually told, and captain, Liam McGovern, went under the sticks for a fine solo effort which was converted by Ste Rowlands. The pressure on Orrell was relentless, and prop Sean Loftus powered over in the corner to make it 22-6.

Hornets relaxed enough to allow Orrell to score a last minute consolation try.

Hornets are now firm favourites to take the title, and should also provide the backbone of the soon to be selected county team to take on Yorkshire. Although this again was essentially a team performance, workaholic scrum-half, Jamie Durbin, took the Mom award.

Hornets u10s 16

Leigh East u10s 12

HORNETS went through to the quarter-finals of the NWCC with a strong win on a very poor pitch, with Riley outstanding and taking Mom.

Bloomfield ran in two more tries and Skarratts scored one, plus two goals from Riley. Ostik and Kelly tackled tirelessly on a very heavy field.

Leigh gave a good account of themselves, but it was Hornets who ran out the better team and into the next round of the cup.

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