Pilkington Recs 12 Simms Cross 32 FOR the third time this season Recs pushed the league champions hard before being eventually overrun in the closing stages of this Premiership Cup 2nd round game.

After playing up the City Road slope in the first half, Recs only trailed 10-8 at the break but in the end they were beaten comfortably after tiring against the much-bigger Simmies pack.

Mark Ashton's close-range interception try, converted by hooker Andy Fairhurst, put Recs level midway through the first half after Simmies had established an early 6-0 advantage.

A try wide out on the right restored the visitors' lead but Fairhurst struck a penalty goal in the dying seconds of the half to reduce the deficit to two.

Pulled down

Recs could have had more to show for their first-half efforts. Loose-forward Andy Lyons was pulled down just yards from the line after taking John Rees' fine off-load. And the wing-centre partnership of Andy Traverse and Darren Haigh also posed a big threat without any reward.

The second half, however, proved disappointing as gaps opened in the City Road men's tiring defence.

Hampered by the early loss of prop Graham Cranney with an ankle injury, forwards Neil Morris, Stuart Mansfield and Rick Shaw battled bravely for Recs but they couldn't halt Simmies, who justified their champions tag with some fine tries.

Sub Dave Archer crossed for a deserved late consolation for the home side, the wingman finishing well after neat inter-play between scrum-half Chris Bailey and Andy Burns.

The hard-working Shaw was Recs' St Helens Roofing man-of-the-match.

Recs confirmed after the game that John Ledger, first team caretaker coach since January, has been handed the job for next season.

Clock Face 6 Pilkington Recs 36

ANDY Traverse claimed a hat-trick of tries as Recs proved too strong for Division Three Clock in this fiery St Helens Cup clash.

The big centre powered over for a brace in the first half after skipper John Rees had opened Recs' account.

Traverse's first was a particular highlight, coming after he picked up a loose ball following a mazy 50-yard surge by winger Andy Burns. His second followed swift hands along the back line, with full-back Mark Ashton providing the final pass. The experienced three-quarter completed his hat-trick with a close-range effort in the opening stages of the second half.

Further tries followed by Rees, grabbing his second from a drop-off pass by stand- off Craig Burrows, and teenage loose-forward Sam Rawsthorne. The try of the game, though, came from the pacy Ashton, who accelerated past the Clock defence after Rees and centre Tim Critchley had combined.

Hooker Chris Bailey added four conversions for Recs, while Clock scored a well-earned consolation try late on.