West Park Bramhope 36 Crossleyans 3

AFTER the Christmast festivities both sides, although not at full strength, will have been grateful for this New Year encounter. The home side soon had the visitors from Halifax on the rack as the home eight took control.

Prop Craig Hardy forced his way over from a maul. The conversion being added by Peter Lloyd, making a welcome return after injury.

Five minutes later second row Tim Pearce, getting better with age, drove over from close in. Pearce provided the next try after converted pressure. Lloyd added a fine conversion.

With the visitors showing little resistance centre Richard Lye danced his way through the defence for a fine individual score.

The first-half scoring was completed by Hardy who again was on hand to touch down for Lloyd to add his third conversion. Half-time score of 31-0 was testimony to Park's dominance.

Crossleyans showed much more spirit in the second-half and with the wind assisting them fought back gamely.

For some reason they chose to kick a penalty mid-way through the half but Park had the final say after a tremendous bout of passing led to stand-in hooker Darren Ayres taking the final pass to dive over.

The rest of the game was scrappy with both sides being guilty of over elaboration.

West Park will have been glad of the run out as they prepare for their league fixture at Chester on Saturday.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.