ABERAVON FIGHTING IRISH 16 BLACKBROOK 32
IAN GOLDEN, Aberavon Green Stars RUFC, Sunday
BLACKBROOK fought hard to secure a tough Challenge Cup first-round win and qualify for a home tie with Longhorns or Ince Rose Bridge.
It was only in the last 15 minutes that the visitors secured their win with the final three tries of the game.
Before that, it was nip and tuck, but it was the St Helens side who showed their experience to win through in the end.
It took 23 minutes for them to break the deadlock as both teams had their initial attacks with the visitors getting close but settling for winning a goal-line drop-out.
Aberavon couldn’t get past the Blackbrook 20-metre line as knock-ons were their worst enemy for much of the match. They even had two repeat sets in the first quarter but had nothing to show for it.
Blackbrook took the lead from the final tackle of a set. A high ball was fumbled in the in-goal area and Luke Ward took full advantage. Keenan Park converted.
From a good set of six, Aberavon’s Morgan Hines caught a long kick and grounded wide out. Ryan Pugh missed the kick.
Hines was sinbinned for a high tackle and, after an injury break, Blackbrook took advantage, Cam Tunstall scoring wide out.
Pugh kicked a penalty-goal just before half-time, so Blackbrook led by only four points at 10-6.
But the advantage was quickly increased early in the second half after an error on the Aberavon line from kick-off. Following a goal-line drop-out, Luke Marsh pounced on a grubber.
Aberavon hit back straight away after being awarded a six-again. Keiron John dived over from dummy-half and Pugh converted, then kicked a penalty-goal, to level.
The Welsh champions should have gone ahead late on with Marsh yellow carded for a high tackle on the hour, giving the home side an advantage.
Straight after that, Aberavon were awarded a penalty and Pugh kicked well from 40 metres to give them the lead for the first time in the game.
However following an interception, Blackbrook had a good set of six and Josh Wilson touched down, with Park improving.
And they sealed the game with ten minutes to go, just before they were back to a full quota of players. Josh Wilson ran well but was stopped in his tracks. From the next tackle, Paul Nash scored and Park converted.
Park completed the scoring, grounding wide out following a good set of passes, then converting his own try.
GAMESTAR: Blackbrook’s Keenan Park was impressive on the wing and kicked well.
GAMEBREAKER: Tries on 64 and 70 minutes for the visitors when they were down to twelve men.
FIGHTING IRISH
1 Isaac Morgan
2 Liam Evans
3 Iestyn Williams-Jones
4 Donavan Rankin
5 Lewis Francis
6 Ryan Pugh
7 Elli Evans
8 Alan Pope
9 Kieron John
10 Ben Jackson
11 Jack Davies
12 Lloyd Allen
13 Archie Whillcock
Subs
14 Archie Snook
21 Mike Burgess
22 Daniel Forester
17 Morgan Hines
Tries: Francis (29), John (44)
Goals: Pugh 4/5
Sin bin: Hines (32) – high tackle
BLACKBROOK
1 Josh Langley
2 Keenan Park
3 Josh Davies
4 Jord McManus
5 Jayme Johnston
6 Mike Wynn
7 Dan Moss
8 James Whalley
9 Paul Nash
10 Luke Marsh
11 Josh Wilson
12 Luke Ward
13 Reece Jackson
Subs
14 Az Hyland
15 Scott Davidson
16 Cam Tunstall
17 Joe Woods
Tries: Ward (23), Tunstall (35), Marsh (42), Wilson (64), Nash (70), Park (77)
Goals: Park 4/6
Sin bin: Marsh (60) – high tackle
SCORING SEQUENCE: 0-6, 4-6, 4-10, 6-10; 6-14, 12-14, 14-14, 16-14, 16-20, 16-26, 16-32
Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Fighting Irish: Lloyd Allen; Blackbrook: Keenan Park
Penalty count: 8-5
Half-time: 6-10
Referee: Kristoff Young
Attendance: 400
Image credit: Riley Sports
