Referee ends Thornhill Trojans game early after crowd trouble at Moldgreen

The game was ended 17 minutes early with the teams locked together and the referee taking the teams off the pitch while order was restored.

It had been touch and go as to whether Thornhill could fulfil the fixture due to a number of players being away on a stag weekend for Casey Johnson. However, a number of players returned to the fold to enable this game to go ahead.

In this back to the wall situation, the Trojans players exceeded expectations and put on a performance which rocked the unbeaten league leading Huddersfield team.

But unfortunately it will be remembered more for the abandonment rather than the exceptional showing from Thornhill.

The game had already been a niggly encounter with tempers boiling over on more than one occasion, but the flash point came with the second half well under way. Moldgreen loose forward Ryan Butterworth broke clear, evaded the advancing Thornhill defence to charge over for what looked to be a score in the corner.

However, as the try was being scored there was an altercation between Thornhill and Moldgreen players in back play. It happened right on the touchline and some Moldgreen supporters took it upon themselves to get involved.

Due to the involvement of the spectators the referee felt he had no option but to abandon the match without having the opportunity to award the try to Moldgreen. Both teams now await a decision as to whether the result will stand.

Up until this point, the game had really been a tough, no holds barred encounter. The Trojans were definitely lifted with the return of Johnny Campbell who made sure Moldgreen knew they were in for no easy ride. Josh Harthorne also made his presence felt and this allowed half-back Bailey Lee and Brad Llewelyln to be creative. Llewellyn went on to be named as official man of the match.

Thornhill opened the scoring with a well taken try from Reece Nicholson when he ran onto a short ball. Sam Ratcliffe converted.

This early score was quickly cancelled by Moldgreen when Reece Pags drove over for a try converted by George Collins.

But Thornhill once again gave Moldgreen something to think about when good handling saw the ball moved out to the wing into the hands of Ratcliffe who finished with a spectacular dive for an unconverted try in the corner.

Thornhill's Brad Llewellyn was then on the receiving end of what appeared to be a headbutt. The referee awarded Thornhill the penalty and Ratcliffe kicked the goal.

Moldgreen's Xander Nash was shown a yellow card for a high tackle and after venting his frustrations at the referee the yellow card turned into a red to end his involvement with play.

Ratcliffe kicked the penalty goal which Moldgreen cancelled out just before the interval with a goal from Collins.

In the second half Campbell was sin-binned for a high tackle and immediately Pags went between the posts for his second try. There was a bit of pushing and shoving following this, but Collins converted.

Thornhill's Elliot Robson was then sin-binned for punching and Moldgreen looked to have taken the lead when Butterworth appeared to be going over for a try. But this was not awarded because of the altercation in back play that led to the early ending of the game.