Double win for St Marie's (From Warrington Guardian)

Double win for St Marie's

North West Counties Cup First Round

Blackbrook Royals U15s 12

Widnes St Marie's U15s 32

AN outstanding performance saw the Marie's win against one of the best sides.

Sean Allen broke through and off-loaded to Scott Yates. He ran deep into the Blackbrook half, passed to Sean Twigg, who outpaced the defence to score an excellent try near the posts.

Despite attempts by the St Helens side to take the game to the visitors, good defending contained them for most of the first half.

Unfortunately the Marie's good work was underdone shortly before half time when two defensive lapses saw them go into the break trailing 12-6.

From the restart St Marie's made much better use of the sloping pitch and strong wind at their back.

Blackbrook were taken apart by the Marie's aggressive running and passing game in the second half, led by forwards Ben Connolly, Sean Conroy and David Prescott.

St Marie's added a try when a good pass from David Prescott set them up near the try line. Mark Hardman found his way through the defence to score, Scott Yates converted.

St Marie's piled on the pressure and from a scrum 15 yards out Dayne Donoghue brushed aside the attentions of three defenders to score a fine try.

Scott Yates put over a great kick despite the strong wind to make the score 12-18.

From the re-start the Marie's, through some excellent passing, moved back in to the Blackbrook half and a bulldozing run from Ben Connolly was stopped just short of the line and from the play- the-ball Chris Cartledge did well to get the ball down. Yates again converted.

Blackbrook could not keep possession and St Marie's made good yards.

A blistering run by Yates put the Marie's deep inside the Blackbrook half where good hands saw Mark Hardman get a deserved second try, again Yates converted.

Shortly before the end the Marie's were awarded a penalty just inside their own half and opted to kick for goal.

Scott Yates capped an awesome kicking display by putting the ball between the sticks to make the final score 12-32.

Widnes St Maries Dragons 32

Saddleworth Rangers 6

ST MARIE'S registered a comfortable win over Saddleworth.

Some excellent passing along the line saw Ball go over for the first try.

Saddleworth hit back with a fine try before Bobbie Goulding dived over from close range to make the half time score 12-6.

The second half saw St Marie's take control and it wasn't long before Ball scored his second try scooting from dummy half.

Andrew White scorched in for the next before man of the match Goulding scored a fine individual try.

Niall Whitfield scored the final try with another solo try.

Jonathan Griffiths was once again top tackler, Jack Murphy winning the coach's award.