Trojans show determination in win

Halifax Irish12

THORNHILL Trojans showed steel and determination to come back from being 12 points down, to secure a vital win in their quest to climb up the Pennine League Premier Division table.

The game was a real battle of the forwards with Thornhill’s Adam Hoyle revelling in the conditions.

Thornhill looked dangerous early on and appeared to have scored in the first minute when Liam Morley broke and looked to have put Ryan Fenton over in the corner but the referee waved the score away.

Straight from this set back Halifax Irish scored as the ball was flung along the line and second row Matthew Tuner crossed wide out. Andrew Brocklehurst converted.

There was a flash point and Halifax full-back Jack McCarthey set about Thornhill’s Joss Ratcliffe.

Referee Darren Gillespie showed McCarthey a red card, while Joss Ratcliffe had to retire from action and went straight to Pinderfields Hospital for surgery on a badly broken cheek bone and nose.

Thornhill reshuffled and play restarted but it was the 12 men of Halifax who scored next when, despite a Thornhill player being wrapped around his ankles, Nick Cassell managed to shrug off another attempted tackle to barge over for a try. Brocklehurst converted.

As half time approached the run of play began to turn in Thornhill’s favour.

The Trojans’ first try was a result of some excellent play from teenager Bret Simmonds, who took play down the wing showing determination to keep in play.

Play then went in field and Simmonds put the supporting Liam Morley over for a try, which Andrew Bates converted.

Then right on half time Thornhill scored another fine try.

Good drives from Adam Hoyle took play away from the Thornhill try line before Ben Kendall broke from inside his own half.

Jake Wilson continued the move before sending man of the match Bates over for a try between the posts. Bates converted to make it 12-12 at the interval.

Thornhill seemed to grow in confidence as the second half wore on.

A kick to the corner from Bates was pounced on by Simmonds to score and give Thornhill the lead for the first time.

A drop-goal from Bates nudged Thornhill further in front before another flare up erupted, which resulted in Thornhill’s Jake Wilson shown a yellow card.

This didn’t unsettle Thornhill and they continued to run with urgency and purpose.

It was direct running which created their final score when Scott Green ended a move by powering over for a try.

Bates converted to seal a win which Thornhill can take a great deal of heart from.