Ministry of defence
Last updated 11:46, Wednesday, 12 November 2008
NORTH WEST COUNTIES
Roose Pioneers
24
Haydock
0
PIONEERS kept their line intact for a second successive weekend in North West Counties Division One.
Haydock were the latest opponents to be nilled as Pioneers cruised to a comfortable victory at Redwaters.
The home side were always in the driving seat in a game well controlled by 17-year-old referee Curtis Braithwaite, who was making his North West Counties debut.
A neat chip to the visitors’ line from Lee Edmondson saw winger Paul Holland knock on. From the scrum, Glen Phillips was held short before Chris Larkin lost possession in trying to ground the ball.
Pioneers went close minutes later but a stray pass from Phillips to Larkin went into touch.
Another kick to the visitors line from Edmondson was gathered by full back Craig Hawley, who made 30 yards up the pitch.
The home got their noses in front on five minutes when man-of-the-match James Gordon sent Dan Marks racing down the touchline. The winger was held short, but from the play-the-ball Dan White switched direction and Marks was on hand to touchdown for an unconverted try.
Haydock's first real attack almost brought them some points, but stand-off Andrew Baron was tackled a foot short of the line.
There was, however, no denying Pioneers when they got close to the line and they increased their lead on 18 minutes. Gordon made a telling break before parting to Edmondson. His neat pass found Larkin in support and the full-back wrong-footed the Haydock defence to go in from 35 yards.
Perry tagged on the goal to make it 10-0.
Gordon, who was instrumental throughout, then made a fine midfield break. He parted to Edmondson, but he was halted two yards from the try line.
Another chance went begging when quick hands across the pitch ended with the ball bouncing off the chest of Andy McClure with the line at his mercy.
At the other end, Larkin was tested with a dangerous kick which he took out of the air brilliantly.
On the stroke of half-time Pioneers went 16-0 up when substitute Joel Williams cut inside to touchdown after good approach work from Mike Bower. Perry adding the conversion.
Pioneers should have further increased their lead on 45 minutes when Bower released Ruairi McGoff, but his intended pass went to ground.
A forceful run from visiting loose forward Carl Cheetham took him to the Pioneers line where three defenders brought him down.
Gordon went close for the home side, before they eventually added to their total. Bowers, Gordon and Williams took play deep into the opposition half, before Steve Flannery was held short. Quick thinking from Edmondson at the play-the-ball saw him round the cover to score and make it 20-0.
Josh Haney was then brought back for a forward pass after racing in from 50 yards.
On 69 minutes Bower fed Perry, who in turn parted to McClure and the centre fended off two would-be tacklers to score out wide.
Roose Pioneers: Chris Larkin, Josh Haney, Glen Phillips, Andy McClure, Dan Marks, Steve Perry, Mike Bower, Ruairi McGoff, Lee Edmondson, Nick Warbrick, James Gordon Dan Sharp, Dan White, Steve Flannery, Dave Finlayson, Stuart Horne, Joel Williams.
