Match Reports
Morley finish year undefeated at home
Saturday 9th January 2010
Morley 37 West Park St Helens 10
CAPTAIN Craig Field celebrated his return from a four-week suspension with two tries as Morley comfortably beat their old rivals at Scatcherd Lane in National Three North last Saturday.
The tall back row forward was a tower of strength for the Maroons as ever and the second of his tries could prove vital come the end of the season as it came in second half injury time to earn a valuable bonus point.
It was surprising that league leaders Morley needed such a late score to earn their four-try bonus after they crossed the line three times in the opening half and held a match-winning 30-3 lead at the break. But after an excellent first half the second period proved a stop-start messy affair in which West Park had possession of the ball for much of it, on the back of a string of penalties that frustrated home supporters.
The hosts were ahead from the sixth minute when Simon Bradshaw slotted over a penalty from 30 metres and the winger went on to enjoy a perfect day with the boot, kicking seven goals from seven attempts.
His second success on 14 minutes made it 6-0, although West Park should have registered their first points when fly-half Rob Hitchmough intercepted a pass from the recalled Mark Pease, in for the unavailable Mark Chester at number 10. He raced clear but did not have the necessary pace and was tackled 10 metres out.
Morley were disrupted when they lost flanker Will Nutbeen with a nasty cut leg that required immediate hospital treatment and a lengthy delay did not help the early flow of the game.
The visitors hit back when centre Craig Orrick made a strong break in midfield and with possession secured inside the home 22 Hitchmough took the chance to land a drop goal.
But Bradshaw kicked another penalty on 25 minutes and from the restart the Maroons got their first try as Field and Danny Chamberlain combined to create space on their 22. Centre Liam Frost carried the ball into the Park half and his inside pass sent winger Chris Morgan clear to score between the posts.
Frost then set up a second try four minutes later, intercepting a loose pass and sending scrum-half Sean Dadswell scooting over. Bradshaw's second conversion made it 23-3.
Both sides had a player sin-binned with punches thrown in an off the ball incident, Chamberlain and Park prop Ian Critchley given 10 minutes to cool down.
Ten minutes of injury time followed and six minutes into it, Morley scored again after Pease made the initial inroads. Alan Benn was tackled just short and play went through several phases before Field was given space to attack the line and took the chance in style for a try converted by Bradshaw.
Morley continued their dominance at the start of the second half and had an extra man after Park number eight Rob Morley was yellow carded for a ruck offence.
With the squeeze put on a fourth try should have been added when Michael Ash made a great break down the middle. James Darbyshire took the ball on and after being tackled just short of the line threw out a speculative looping pass. Field was up in support but could not keep hold of the ball with the line at his mercy.
Relieved St Helens cleared their lines and it was then Morley's turn to be down a man when Pease was sin-binned for coming in from the side at a ruck.
Now it was the hosts under pressure and with the penalty count mounting Park got a try when Hitchmough brushed off Joe Battye to score between the posts. Warren Hunt added the conversion.
Morley's defence held firm for the rest of the game and they finally added more points three minutes into injury time as they put the ball to the corner from a penalty. After making the catch at the line-out, a quick pass gave Field the chance he had been looking for to charge over. Bradshaw's seventh kick sealed a fine success.
Morley: Evans; Morgan, Frost, Ash, S Bradshaw, Pease, S Dadswell, Gabriel, Darbyshire, Benn, Stannard, Chamberlain, Nutbeen, Hewetson, Field. Replacements (all used): Gray, P Dadswell, Battye.
West Park: Hull, Holding, Orrick, Briers, Hunt, Hitchmough, Worsley, Glover, Bonatti, Critchley, Hanson, Fortune, Garvery, Burrows, Morley. Replacements (all used): Dyson, Whelan, Bailey.
It was surprising that league leaders Morley needed such a late score to earn their four-try bonus after they crossed the line three times in the opening half and held a match-winning 30-3 lead at the break. But after an excellent first half the second period proved a stop-start messy affair in which West Park had possession of the ball for much of it, on the back of a string of penalties that frustrated home supporters.
The hosts were ahead from the sixth minute when Simon Bradshaw slotted over a penalty from 30 metres and the winger went on to enjoy a perfect day with the boot, kicking seven goals from seven attempts.
His second success on 14 minutes made it 6-0, although West Park should have registered their first points when fly-half Rob Hitchmough intercepted a pass from the recalled Mark Pease, in for the unavailable Mark Chester at number 10. He raced clear but did not have the necessary pace and was tackled 10 metres out.
Morley were disrupted when they lost flanker Will Nutbeen with a nasty cut leg that required immediate hospital treatment and a lengthy delay did not help the early flow of the game.
The visitors hit back when centre Craig Orrick made a strong break in midfield and with possession secured inside the home 22 Hitchmough took the chance to land a drop goal.
But Bradshaw kicked another penalty on 25 minutes and from the restart the Maroons got their first try as Field and Danny Chamberlain combined to create space on their 22. Centre Liam Frost carried the ball into the Park half and his inside pass sent winger Chris Morgan clear to score between the posts.
Frost then set up a second try four minutes later, intercepting a loose pass and sending scrum-half Sean Dadswell scooting over. Bradshaw's second conversion made it 23-3.
Both sides had a player sin-binned with punches thrown in an off the ball incident, Chamberlain and Park prop Ian Critchley given 10 minutes to cool down.
Ten minutes of injury time followed and six minutes into it, Morley scored again after Pease made the initial inroads. Alan Benn was tackled just short and play went through several phases before Field was given space to attack the line and took the chance in style for a try converted by Bradshaw.
Morley continued their dominance at the start of the second half and had an extra man after Park number eight Rob Morley was yellow carded for a ruck offence.
With the squeeze put on a fourth try should have been added when Michael Ash made a great break down the middle. James Darbyshire took the ball on and after being tackled just short of the line threw out a speculative looping pass. Field was up in support but could not keep hold of the ball with the line at his mercy.
Relieved St Helens cleared their lines and it was then Morley's turn to be down a man when Pease was sin-binned for coming in from the side at a ruck.
Now it was the hosts under pressure and with the penalty count mounting Park got a try when Hitchmough brushed off Joe Battye to score between the posts. Warren Hunt added the conversion.
Morley's defence held firm for the rest of the game and they finally added more points three minutes into injury time as they put the ball to the corner from a penalty. After making the catch at the line-out, a quick pass gave Field the chance he had been looking for to charge over. Bradshaw's seventh kick sealed a fine success.
Morley: Evans; Morgan, Frost, Ash, S Bradshaw, Pease, S Dadswell, Gabriel, Darbyshire, Benn, Stannard, Chamberlain, Nutbeen, Hewetson, Field. Replacements (all used): Gray, P Dadswell, Battye.
West Park: Hull, Holding, Orrick, Briers, Hunt, Hitchmough, Worsley, Glover, Bonatti, Critchley, Hanson, Fortune, Garvery, Burrows, Morley. Replacements (all used): Dyson, Whelan, Bailey.
Referee: Hatim Tall.
