Thatto Heath Crusaders kicked off the North West Men’s League weekend with a convincing victory over Salford City Roosters.
Thatto Heath Crusaders and Salford City Roosters began the weekend’s rugby league action on a bitterly cold Friday night in St Helens. The hosts could go to the top of the Division 1 table with a win, at least overnight, and the visitors were looking to bounce back after a narrow loss to West Bank Bears last week.
Possibly in an attempt to merely stay warm, Thatto Heath were immediately on the attack. Salford were unable to slow their opponents’ play down in the ruck, and the Crusaders took advantage, shifting the ball right for winger Owen Scholes to open the scoring.
The Roosters managed to quell the hosts’ opening barrage and set about suffocating Thatto Heath in their own half. Their defensive intensity looked to have worked, forcing full-back Ellis Keppel to scramble and put in a speculative deep kick. Scholes, however, sensed an opportunity. He showed a clean pair of heels to race on to the bouncing ball to create something out of nothing and double his tally mid-way through the first half. The Salford rearguard was left bamboozled, but were given a slight reprieve as Connor Foster’s conversion attempt cannoned off the upright.
Thatto Heath were rolling, and Keppel added his name to the scoresheet straight from the restart. Bradley Sherwood charged up the pitch and gifted his full-back with open space to run under the sticks. The Crusaders sensed blood, but Salford refused to buckle under the pressure. After Steven Frank, wearing #9 but playing on the left-wing, plucked the ball out of the sky, the Roosters inched their way up the pitch before prop forward Scott Lomax plundered over the line to get the away side on the board.
Daniel Priestley’s conversion brought the scores closer than Thatto Heath would have expected with all their attacking pressure, but it would, however, prove to be the visitors’ final contribution to the scoreboard. The half-time break was mere brief respite for Salford as Thatto Heath sought to punish their opponents with brutal and incisive attacking play. Thomas Smith, Bailey Dean, Kameron McCabe and Bradley Sherwood all chalked up tries for Thatto Heath in a collective effort to put Salford to the sword.
The final whistle from the referee had a tinge of mercy in it, and it signalled Thatto Heath sitting atop the NWML Division 1 table, for one night at least.
FT: Thatto Heath Crusaders 38-6 Salford City Roosters
Thatto Heath Crusaders:
1. Ellis Keppel 2. Owen Scholes 3. Jacob Brown 4. Kameron McCabe 5. Alfie Matthias 6. Alex Speakman 7. Connor Foster 8. Bailey Dean 9. Bradley Pinder 10. Loui Pauls 11. Bradley Sherwood 12. McKenzie Buckley 13. Greg Wilde 14. Cian Rylatt 15. William Mills 16. Sam Favell 17. Thomas Smith
Tries: Owen Scholes (x2), Ellis Keppel, Thomas Smith, Bailey Dean, Kameron McCabe, Bradley Sherwood
Goals: Connor Foster (x5)
Salford City Roosters:
1. Reece Schofield 2. Rowan Campbell 3. Callum Bovill 4. Callum Jones 5. Liam Tordoff 6. George Jamieson 7. Daniel Priestley 8. Scott Lomax 9. Steven Frank 10. Adam Walker 11. Jayden Crellin 12. Lee Murphy 13. Omar Stunell 14. Noah Farr 15. Jacob Atherton 16. Harry Townsend 17. Henry Firth
Tries: Scott Lomax
Goals: Daniel Priestley
Thatto Heath were usurped at the top of the NWML Division 1 table by Hindley, who returned to winning ways away at Chorley Panthers, and again by West Bank Bears, who remain the only side in the division with a 100% record, doing so in convincing fashion at home to Ulverston. Elsewhere, there were wins for Wigan St Cuthberts and Waterhead Warriors A against Hindpool Tigers and Buttonwood Bears, respectively - the Bears remain the only side without a win so far this season.
In the Premier Division, Folly Lane wiped out their negative points tally with their first win of the season against basement-dwellers Westhoughton Lions. Shevington Sharks also gained their first win in a high-scoring affair at home to Heysham Atoms, coming out on top 58-20. Haresfinch and Halton Farnworth Hornets ran out convincing winners away at Ashton Bears and at home to Blackbrook, respectively, but it was Orrel St James who defeated Dalton for their fourth win in four games.
Wigan St Judes lead the way in Division 2 after a 34-6 win at home to Bank Quay Bulls, a win that retains the Wigan club’s status as the last remaining undefeated side in the division. After forfeiting their match the previous week, Rochdale Mayfield A’s misery was compounded by a dominant 44-18 display from their visitors, Haydock Warriors. Newton Storm claimed their first win of the season over Roose Pioneers, while Garswood Stags were convincing conquerors of Runcorn. In the tie of the round, a Harley Pattison double was not enough to prevent Leigh Miners Rangers A being edged out 18-22 by Golborne Parkside.
It was a high-scoring weekend in Division 3 as Portico Vine and Spring View nilled their opponents, Langworthy Reds and Westhoughton Lions A, respectively, while managing to score 102 points between them - Lewis Furlong emerging as the hat-trick hero for Portico Vine, and bagging himself 5 successful conversions in the process. Culcheth Eagles also breached to 50-point barrier on their visit to Liverpool Lizards, the hosts managing 10 points in reply. Not to be outdone by Furlong, Blackpool Scorpions’ Philip Mitchell went one better with four tries in a Scorpions 40-10 win over Orrell St James A, whereas Higginshaw were the only victorious team on the weekend that failed to reach 40 points. However, a 38-24 win away at Chester Gladiators was enough to see them lead the way ahead of Spring View at the top of the Division 3 table on points difference.
By Patrick Bratin
