Rylands Sharks 22 Bank Quay Bulls 44

BANK Quay Bulls saw off the challenge of rivals Rylands Sharks to lift The Stuart Middleton Foundation Warrington Cup at The Halliwell Jones Stadium on Tuesday.

Bulls were 44-22 winners thanks to a hat-trick from Nick Braide as well as tries for Josh Hensey, Jason Jackson, Sam Bennett, Darren Hill and Dean Braddish.

Rylands replied with tries from Carl Lloyd, Paul Reynolds, Billy Sheen and Luke Walker.

Bank Quay opened the scoring in the first minute when second row Braide made a 40 metre break; a quick play the ball saw hooker Darren Hill kick ahead and he re-gathered the ball before finding winger Hensey who scored in the right corner.

Eight minutes later a kick into the in-goal area by Bulls scrum half Steve Hill was collected by the Rylands full back Jack Lewis, but Bulls stand off Jackson stole the ball in a one-on-one tackle and scored on the right.

Prop forward Phil Braddish added the conversion.

Rylands hit back on 12 minutes when quick hands created an overlap for centre Lloyd to score in the right corner, but shortly afterwards the Bulls responded when Hill went from dummy half and scored a superb solo try. P Braddish added the conversion.

Bulls moved further ahead when an inside ball from D Hill found Braide, who powered over on the left.

P Braddish converted but nine minutes before the break Rylands scrum half Sheen found second row Reynolds, who scored at the side of the posts.

Full back Jack Lewis added the conversion to make the half time score 22-10 to the Bulls.

Three minutes into the second half the Sharks narrowed the gap further when Lewis made a break down the left and he found Sheen in support to score at the left of the posts. Lewis converted.

Six minutes later a diagonal run from Bulls second row Danny Woods created room for substitute S Bennett to power over on the left. P Braddish added the conversion.

A superb 50 metre break down the left wing by Braide left the Sharks defence in tatters and his inside ball put centre Dean Braddish over between the posts.

P Braddish converted but the Sharks replied almost immediately when a clever kick into the in-goal area by Sheen saw winger Walker react quickest to score on the left.

Lewis goaled to narrow the gap to ten points.

Bulls then camped on the Sharks line and after prop forward Steve Bird had been held just short a quick play the ball saw Braide bulldoze his way over on the right.

P Braddish converted.

In the final minute the Bulls kept the ball alive and Braide forced his way over to complete a fine hat-trick. P Braddish added the conversion.

Sharks: Jack Lewis; Luke Walker, Jamie Howard, Carl Lloyd, Luke Gillooly; Craig Harris, Billy Sheen; Jordan Ansell, Sean Boyle, Matt Taylor, Paul Reynolds, Jon Rigby, Chris Dean. Subs: Peter Price, Jack Cosgrove, Chris Morley, Rob Campbell.

Bulls: Dane Evans; Lewi Thorpe, Reece Barry, Dean Braddish, Josh Hensey; Jason Jackson, Steve Hill; Steve Bird, Darren Hill, Phil Braddish, Danny Woods, Nick Braide, Jamie Evans. Subs: Alex Green, Sam Bennett, Niall Toher, Neil Savage.