Trojans take step towards promotion

Anthony Broadhead had a terrific game for the Trojans against Woolston.

The half-time score of 10-0 seemed little reward for the hard work and enterprise in Thornhill’s control of the game by veteran Anthony Broadhead and man-of-the- match Luke Haigh.

The first points came when Adam Bird took a well timed pass from Liam Morley, to touch down in the corner, Joel Gibson added the extras with a fine touch line conversion.

It was not until after the half hour mark that the Thornhill lead was increased.

Gibson created the platform with a 40-20 kick and from the resulting scrum the ball was worked along the line to Mindaugas Bendikas who scored out wide to put Thornhill 10 points ahead at the interval.

From the restart Thornhill took a firm hold on the game with two tries in five minutes by Adam Allerton, each coming off well judged Danny Ratcliffe passes. Joel Gibson added the extras to one of these.

Tempers flared and Woolston’s Ryan Brown was sin binned for alleged punching.

Following the penalty, Scott Green ran round the defence from acting half-back and scored between the posts, with Gibson again adding the extras.

Things got heated again on the hour mark resulting in Thornhill’s Danny Ratcliffe and Woolston’s Jack Sherrat being shown the red card.

With five minutes to go play was switched with two long passes, firstly by Broadhead and then Scott Dyson finding Bendikas who touched down out wide for Thornhill’s final score of the game.

Woolston were not for surrendering and in the closing minutes of the game Brown made a break from 25 yards out to score between the posts, Danny Garcia adding the extras.

Victory leaves Thornhill three points clear of third-placed Stanningley with five matches remaining.

Stanningley can close the gap on Friday when they entertain Drighlington in the only Division Three match being played this weekend.

The Trojans are back in league action on Friday September 4 when they meet Dewsbury Moor Maroons in a tasty Division Three derby.

The teams also meet in the Heavy Woollen ARL Jim Brown Cup final next Thursday (August 27) at Tetley’s Stadium, kick off 8pm, preceded by Batley Boys and Shaw Cross A in the JohnKane final (6pm).