Bulls see off Rovers to set up Crosfields semi final

BANK Quay Bulls made a stunning second half comeback to defeat Woolston Rovers in the Stuart Middleton Foundation Warrington Cup preliminary round at Longshaw Street last Wednesday.

The first half belonged to Rovers as they built up a decent advantage but the last half an hour was all Bank Quay as they ran in five unanswered tries to gain a deserved victory and earn a trip to Crosfields in the semi final.

Bank Quay opened the scoring in the seventh minute when a short ball from hooker Jason Jackson put prop forward Steve Bird over between the posts.

Fellow prop forward Phil Braddish converted but Rovers replied five minutes later when centre Justin Becher found 16-year-old winger Chris Twigg and he raced 80 metres, rounding the Bulls defence on a weaving run, to score a superb try between the posts.

Full back Glyn Roberts added the conversion.

Bulls regained the lead shortly afterwards when Bird scored in the right hand corner; Braddish converted from the touchline but then he was sin binned for kicking out in the tackle.

While he was off the field, Rovers took advantage of the extra man when a quick ball from Belcher found prop forward Chris Mellor who twisted in the tackle to score. Roberts levelled once again with the conversion.

Straight from the restart Rovers went ahead when they moved into the Bulls half and Belcher found Twigg, who went on another weaving run and raced 40 metres to score in the right hand corner.

Roberts goaled from wide out and then they were awarded a penalty for holding down.

Hooker Ryan Brown gave an inside ball to loose forward Jake Upton, who scored at the right of the posts. Roberts added the conversion.

Right on the stroke of half time Bank Quay got themselves back into the game when they had a scrum in front of Rovers' posts and from that the ball was passed out to Bird, who went over in the right corner to complete his hat-trick and make the interval score 24-16 in Rovers' favour.

A minute into the second half strong drives from Rovers winger Christian Taylor and prop forward Matt Clarke saw Clarke send Brown racing away to score between the posts.

Roberts converted, but again the Bulls responded when good hands on the last tackle saw them go down the blind side and centre Reece Barry put winger Josh Hensey over in the left corner.

Just before the hour Bulls were awarded a penalty on the Rovers line and second row Nick Braide powered over from close range.

P Braddish converted to narrow the gap to four points and when Rover has second row Anthony Clayton sin binned for a high tackle the Bulls took advantage to score from the penalty.

Stand off Darren Hill burrowed over at the side of the posts and Braddish goaled to put his side 32-20 ahead.

Bulls moved further clear when Bird went over for his fourth try and they made sure of the win in the final minute when Barry scored in the left corner.

Braddish added the conversion to complete a deserved 42-20 success.

Bulls: Dane Evans; Josh Hensey, Reece Barry, Steve Caley, Jamie Evans; Darren Hill, Steve Hill; Steve Bird, Jason Jackson, Phil Braddish, Nick Braide, Niall Toher, Dean Braddish.

Subs: Neil Savage, Chris Myers, Sam Bennett, Charlie McQuillan.

Rovers: Glyn Roberts; Chris Twigg, Justin Becher, James Rosson, Christian Taylor; Ethan Jude, Billy Maunder; Chris Mellor, Ryan Brown, Matt Clarke, Anthony Clayton, Sean Conway, Jake Upton.

Subs: Shane Duffy, Dan Fearnley, Jack Sherratt.