CROSFIELDS will play their first home game of the 2014 season on their new pitch.

Installation of drainage and a new playing surface is now available to Soap in front of their clubhouse at Crosfields Recreation Ground, Hood Lane, courtesy of an award from the Rugby Football League.

Nine months after work started, Crosfields will host Peterlee Pums on Saturday, kick off 2.30pm.

To celebrate the occasion, a programme of events is planned around the game, including junior curtain raisers at 2pm and a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Blackbrook 16
Crosfields 16

CROSFIELDS battled to a point as they opened the Kingstone Press National Conference League Division Three season in St Helens.

Brook stormed into a 16-0 lead in the first 30 minutes, before Phil Brazendale got Soap back into the game with great footwork and power to score. Jack Reid converting.

Soap got back up the field on 60 minutes with Reid dummying through a tired defence to score between the sticks and going on to add the extras himself.

Reid then scooped up a loose ball, combined with Ash Cornelia and fed Nathan Hamilton to score a 50-metre try.

Phil Brazendale picked up the players’ man-of-the-match, with Chris Burgess nominated by the opposition.

Crosfields: A Cornelia; I Boden, T Brophy, C Burgess, N Hamilton; J Reid, C Harris; B Lowe, H James, M Pitt, L Bani, J Moore, J Rigby. Subs D Lee, J Ansell, D Boden, P Brazendale.

Leyland 18
Crosfields A 12

SOAP'S Alliance team opened the season with a narrow defeat against Leyland.

Soap went in at half time 18-0 down, but two tries from speedster Jonny Pennell, both converted by Luke Cunnigham, put them back in the game at 18-12.

Matt Barber was voted man-of-the-match with Matt Mahoney and Tom Caswell going well in the forwards, with Cunningham and Andrew Campbell pick of the backs.

Crosfields: L Cunningham; J Pennell, K Thomas, S Johnson, R Steele; A Campbell, P Bannon; J Proctor, P Reardon, T Caswell, Barber, P Atherton, M Mahoney. Subs J Morris, M Reynolds, T Higham, J Rothwell.