Foulstone stars in BARLA win

Foulstone scorched in for a hat-trick of tries and also landed six goals for a personal haul of 24 points.

Shaw Cross Sharks centre Shaun Squires was also among BARLA’s try scorers as they warmed up for next month’s clash against South Sydney Junior Ambassadors in style.

n There was a thrilling end to Thornhill Trojans’ opening game in the Pennine League Division at Slaithwaite Saracens last Saturday.

Jake Wilson had a chance to win the game with a long range penalty but his effort drifted wide and Slaithwaite held on for a 14-13 win.

Thornhill withstood early pressure before Joss Ratcliffe produced an excellent tackle which forced a knock-on and Adam Bird gathered to race three-quarters of the field for the opening try. Sam Ratcliffe converted.

Hooker Damien Ketchington replied with a try for the home side. Gavin Dyson converted.

Wilson made a storming run for the line but he was held down in the tackle and David Roebuck was sin-binned.

Thornhill made the extra man count when full-back Luke Eastwood, Thornhill’s MoM, sent Anthony Broadhead over. Sam Ratcliffe converted.

Liam Morley extended Thornhill’s lead with a drop-goal early in the second half but Simon Birkenshaw replied with a try for Slaithwaite and after Broadhead was sin-binned, Chris Clarke edged the home side ahead with another try.

Thornhill rallied but despite Jake Wilson’s late penalty attempt, they were unable to prevent defeat.

n Dewsbury Moor opened their Premier Division campaign at home to Sharlston Rovers and despite battling bravely, they suffered a 32-0 defeat.

Debutant Andy Daw had a fine game, supported by Andy Robinson, James Delaney, Danny Wardman, Ben Hardacre and Matt Shaw, while Moor had a couple of tries ruled out for forward passes.

n Batley Boys made a winning start in Division One, edging a thriller against Sharlston A.

Rovers scored first but although Rob Bingham replied for the Boys, errors gifted Sharlston the chance to take a 12-6 lead.

Simon Hill burst through four defenders to score and make it 12-10 at half-time.

Sharlston scored three quick tries at the start of the second half to extend their lead to 26-10 but a superb run from Richard Moody saw him reply.

Sharlston thought they had sealed victory, adding two more tries to lead 34-16 with only 15 minutes remaining.

Adam Lister replied with a converted try for the Boys before a crunching tackle by Josh Whitehead forced a knock-on and he gathered to race away and make it 34-26. Whitehead added another try to bring Batley within two points.

Batley launched another attack and Whitehead sent Ryan Crossley between the posts. Bingham converted to seal a terrific win for the Boys.

Man-of-the-match went to Matthew Sheridan, closely followed by Tom Dransfield and Bingham.

n Wyke beat Emley Moor 30-24 in Division Two.

Forward Joe Bartle made a big impact on his debut as Wyke took control early on, putting Emley Moor under pressure.

Ady Doherty fed Duane Platt, who produced a great short ball for John Rayner to race to the posts for the opening try. Micky Wormald converted.

Ashley Hutchinson fed James Dewhirst, who sold a dummy to race over and he also converted

Dewhirst added his second try, which Doherty converted as Wyke led 18-0 at half-time.

Emley Moor scored early in the second half but Ryan Exley then intercepted a pass and raced 50 metres to score on his debut. Wormald converted.

Dewhirst was held short as he went close to completing a hat-trick before Warren Pitman capped a man-of-the-match display with a try on his birthday, which Wormald goaled.

Emley Moor responded with two late converted tries but Wyke held on for a deserved win and they entertain Brotherton on Saturday (kick off 2.30pm).